"The BFHI is an important step, but only refers to
the hospital setting.  How can women be empowered--in psychological,
political, and material terms--to fight for the right to information about
and support for breastfeeding?   How can we transform the debate so that it
is not about the guilt of individual women but about the right to adequate
health care and to community support for maternity?"

I just want to point out that there is another version of BFI (additition to
BFI in the Hospital) - The Baby-FriendlyT Initiative in Community Health
Services.

This Initiative could help address the community support for breastfeeding
and maternity care.

The Breastfeeding Committee for Canada has released "Baby-FriendlyT
Initiative in Community Health Services: A Canadian Implementation Guide"
This new manual, which defines the requirements and process by which
community health services can receive a Baby-Friendly T designation similar
to that offered to hospitals and maternity services through the
international WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly T Hospital Initiative.

The Seven Point Plan:
1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all
staff and volunteers.
2. Train all health care providers in the knowledge and skills necessary to
implement the breastfeeding policy.
3. Inform pregnant women and their families about the benefits and
management of breastfeeding.
4. Support mothers to establish and maintain exclusive breastfeeding to six
months.
5. Encourage sustained breastfeeding beyond six months with appropriate
introduction of complementary foods.
6. Provide a welcoming atmosphere for breastfeeding families.
7. Promote collaboration between health care providers, breastfeeding
support groups and the local community.

Copies are available for purchase from The Breastfeeding Committee for
Canada or can be downloaded for free from the BCC website at
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Falls/1136/

Janice Reynolds
Consumer Representative on the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada

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