COLUMBIA ASIA HOSPITAL – PETALING JAYA AWARDED AS A BABY-FRIENDLY HOSPITAL
The National Lactation Centre, under the Ministry of Health Malaysia, has awarded Columbia Asia Hospital – Petaling Jaya (CAH-PJ) the Gold Plaque for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). Congratulations to them for this wonderful achievement. Esteemed guest, Deputy Minister of Health Malaysia, YB Dato’ Lukanisman Awang Sauni, presented the plaque to Columbia Asia’s Group CEO and Managing Director, Dr. Chan Boon Kheng.
“We are truly honored by this award,” said Dr. Chan upon receiving the gold plaque. “Undoubtedly, breastfeeding is the best and should be the exclusive source of nutrition for newborns. At CAH-PJ, we practise the National Breastfeeding Policy of Malaysia, which is communicated to all relevant staff and train them to be proficient in executing this policy.”
The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was launched in 1991 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF). To achieve BFHI accreditation, a hospital must demonstrate an exclusive breastfeeding rate of at least 75% among postpartum mothers.
There were other criteria too that qualified CAH-PJ for the BFHI Gold Plaque. This includes informing all pregnant women about the benefits of breastfeeding before they give birth, encouraging mothers to initiate breastfeeding within the first 30 minutes after delivery, and ensuring immediate skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby for at least one hour.
Furthermore, CAH-PJ staff guide mothers on breastfeeding techniques and maintaining milk supply, ensure that newborns receive no food or drink other than breast milk (unless doctors advice otherwise), practice the ‘rooming-in’ concept where mothers and babies are placed in the same room instead of separated, and discourage the use of artificial pacifiers or dummies for breastfeeding infants.
Also present at the event were MOH Director of the Nutrition Division (JUSA Grade C), Puan Rusidah Selamat and Head of the National Lactation Centre, Dr. Siti Maisarah Ahmad.
Breastfeeding offers a wealth of benefits for both mother and baby. Here are 5 good reasons why women should choose to breastfeed:
1. Optimal Nutrition:
- Breast milk is perfectly formulated to meet a baby’s nutritional needs. It contains the ideal balance of proteins, fats, vitamins, and carbohydrates for healthy growth and development.
- The composition of breast milk changes as the baby grows, adapting to the child’s evolving needs.
2. Immune System Support:
- Breast milk is rich in antibodies that help protect babies from infections and illnesses.
- It can reduce the risk of ear infections, respiratory infections, diarrhea, and other common childhood ailments.
3. Health Benefits for the Baby:
- Breastfeeding has been linked to a reduced risk of various long-term health issues, including asthma, allergies, obesity, type 1 diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- It aids in healthy brain development.
4. Health Benefits for the Mother:
- Breastfeeding can help mothers recover more quickly after childbirth.
- It can also reduce the risk of developing certain health conditions, such as breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
- It also aids in returning the uterus to its pre-pregnancy size.
5. Bonding and Emotional Connection:
- Breastfeeding promotes close physical contact between mother and baby, fostering a strong emotional bond.
- This intimate interaction can be a comforting and reassuring experience for both mother and child.
It is clear that Columbia Asia is doing a great job to promote breastfeeding. Let’s hope all hospitals start doing this with full dedication too.
