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By Eulana Weekes
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS (WINN): Kasie David, Kalencia Liburd, Angelle Hodge, Seema Williams, Saskia Mills and Jeresa Smithen were honored for exclusive breastfeeding for six months at the Community Health-Nevis third annual awards ceremony held on Monday, August 12.
The ceremony took place in the Gender Affairs Meeting Room.
Mrs. LaToya Matthew Duncan, Nutrition Surveillance Coordinator at the St. Kitts Baby-Friendly Hospital Focal Point, presented awards, certificates and plaques to the mothers in recognition of their commitment to exclusive breastfeeding.
The winners represent six health centres at Nevis, Brownhill, Combermere, Kinglan, Butler, Cotton Grande and Charleston Health Centre.
Photos on social media showed health care nurses in the gender affairs meeting room proudly holding plaques that will be placed in their respective health centers.
Dr. William Stones, an obstetrician and gynecologist, spoke at the ceremony, emphasizing the importance of postpartum care and breastfeeding, with a special focus on maternity leave and mothers’ return to work.
Nevis Minister of Health, Senator Jahnel Nisbett, expressed delight that the health centre continues to promote breastfeeding programmes.
The theme of “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All” highlights the importance of community support for breastfeeding.
Health officials around the world strongly recommend breastfeeding for at least six months. The Federation’s Ministry of Health, through its Nutrition Surveillance Program, works to protect, promote and support breastfeeding through baby-friendly policies and initiatives; including the interaction of Baby-Friendly Hospitals with the St. Kitts-Nevis health system.
To achieve Baby-Friendly certification, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis follows ten (10) steps to successful breastfeeding such as:
Comply with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and relevant World Health Assembly resolutions;
ensuring staff have adequate knowledge, competence and skills to support breastfeeding;
Discuss the importance and management of breastfeeding with pregnant women and families;
Promoting immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact and supporting mothers to initiate breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth;
Support mothers to initiate and maintain breastfeeding and to manage common difficulties;
Do not give any food or liquids other than breast milk to a breastfed newborn unless medically indicated;
Allowing mothers and babies to stay together 24 hours a day and practicing rooming-in;
Supporting mothers to recognise and respond to their baby’s feeding cues;
Counseling mothers about bottle, nipple and pacifier use and their risks;
Coordinate discharge so that parents and infants can receive ongoing support and care in a timely manner.
The Centers for Disease Control lists the top five benefits of breastfeeding as nutrition, protection, antibodies, convenience, and maternal health. The organization explains: “Breastfeeding has health benefits for both infants and mothers. Breast milk provides ideal nutrition for infants and supports their growth and development. Breastfeeding can also help protect infants and mothers from certain diseases.”
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