September 28, 2006

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit has received dozens of inquiries from across the nation about the process of pursuing a UNICEF “Baby Friendly” Designation.  Today local representatives from hospitals, community health services and other agencies will be hearing how they can begin the process of pursuing the designation when Marianne Brophy from the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada presents the Thunder Bay District Health Unit with the UNICEF award.

“We’ve received inquiries from as far away as Nova Scotia,” says Lorraine Repo, Manager of the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit.  “This shows us the growing interest to adopt the highest international standards of maternity care. Yet locally, only 50% of the babies in our district are being breastfed at six months.  Clearly there is a need to support the women in our own area with Baby Friendly policies and practices.”

The provincial recognition is being reinforced by a poster featuring the Health Unit’s BFI Designation. It will be circulated throughout the province by the Ontario Breastfeeding Committee to encourage other community health services to adopt the practices.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is the first Community Health Service in Ontario to receive the designation.  Staff at the Health Unit will now be available to assist other organizations acquire the designation.

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