Promoting breastfeeding to let children have a head start in life
To promote breastfeeding and garner support from the healthcare sector, the Department of Health (DH), in collaboration with the Hospital Authority, the Hong Kong Private Hospitals Association, the Hong Kong Committee for United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Hong Kong Association, today (November 23) organised the Breastfeeding Symposium 2024, which brought together local and overseas experts from Sweden, Singapore and Australia to share with representatives of the public and private healthcare sectors, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders the various issues related to breastfeeding, including professional support and the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative jointly promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UNICEF.
International literature and research showed breastmilk is the ideal food for infants. Breastmilk is safe, clean and contains antibodies which can help prevent many common childhood illnesses. Breastfed children perform better in intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese, and are less prone to have diabetes later in life.
Officiating at the symposium, the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, said, "The Government has all along been promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding through a multi-pronged approach. The promotion of breastfeeding policy relies on the co-operation of different stakeholders in the community, and the support of healthcare professionals and medical institutions is particularly important."
The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative is a global initiative launched by the WHO and the UNICEF, aiming to bring every baby the best start in life by creating a supportive atmosphere for breastfeeding. The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative includes a Baby-Friendly Health Facility assessment and accreditation programme to assess and recognise medical organisations which have successfully promoted, supported and safeguarded breastfeeding.
Dr Lam said, "The first few hours and days after birth are critical for establishing lactation and success of breastfeeding. All eight public hospitals with obstetrics departments in Hong Kong have been accredited as Baby Friendly Hospitals (BFHs). Two private hospitals providing delivery services have also started the BFH accreditation process, with one of them already accredited. In 2023, about 40 per cent of local babies were born in private hospitals. The Government calls upon more private hospitals to initiate the BFH accreditation process. To further strengthen and consolidate the baby-friendly measures in local maternity hospitals, the Government has set up a dedicated working group under the Committee on Promotion of Breastfeeding, in a bid to make breastfeeding the mainstream of infant and young child feeding in Hong Kong. Besides, to comprehensively enhance the professional support provided by health care facilities to breastfeeding families, the DH has expedited the accreditation process for Baby-Friendly Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs). Currently, there are eight Baby-Friendly MCHCs, while the remaining 20 MCHCs are undergoing the accreditation process.
In addition, professional counselling services can ensure that mothers and their families receive adequate breastfeeding support, along with the information and advice, to build the confidence they need to nourish their babies optimally. To this end, the DH organised workshops two days prior to the symposium to enhance the capacity of healthcare professionals in both the public and private sectors in this area.
The Government will continue to take forward a series of breastfeeding promotion initiatives, including:
encouraging the implementation of the Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace policy. DH has issued guidelines for employers and employees with specific advice on supporting breastfeeding.
promoting public places as Breastfeeding Friendly Premises. Since the Government's introduction of a mandatory requirement in the sale conditions of government land sale sites for new commercial developments in 2017 for developers to provide babycare rooms and lactation rooms (LRs), the Government has already included relevant requirements in the sale conditions for over 20 government land sales sites for new commercial developments as at October 31 this year. Meanwhile, the Government has also mandated the provision of babycare facilities and LRs in some newly completed government premises. As of October 31 this year, there were more than 400 babycare rooms in government properties.
"The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address" announced the establishment of a breastmilk bank and formulating the related mechanism for breastmilk donation in 2025 to provide breastmilk for infants and young children who cannot be breastfed by their biological mothers, and especially to minimise the chance of serious illness in premature or severely-ill babies. The breastmilk bank is expected to be officially launched in the first quarter of 2025.
The Government will continue to work closely with different sectors of the society to strengthen the professional support for breastfeeding mothers in the healthcare sector and step up publicity on breastfeeding in the community through various channels, with a view to fostering a proactive culture of support for breastfeeding in the community and creating a friendly environment conducive to breastfeeding.
The Breastfeeding Symposium 2024 provided a golden opportunity for healthcare professionals to share and exchange views on areas related to the enhancement of professional support for breastfeeding and to exchange experiences, data and views on the enhancement of professional support for breastfeeding mothers.
Promoting breastfeeding to let children have a head start in life Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Promoting breastfeeding to let children have a head start in life Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CSTB announces series of giant panda promotion activities
Since the arrival of another pair of giant pandas, An An and Ke Ke (their current names), gifted by the Central Government to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, a craze for giant pandas has sparked across the city. An An and Ke Ke are currently acclimatising to the new living environment and are in good condition. They are expected to meet the public within December this year.
In order to create a joyful atmosphere for welcoming the giant pandas, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB), jointly with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and Ocean Park Hong Kong (OPHK), will collaborate with various parties in Hong Kong to organise a series of promotional activities themed Come and Enjoy a Pandastic Hong Kong. The new Hong Kong giant panda family will serve as Hong Kong's tourism ambassadors in promoting "tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong" experience, attracting visitors from all over the world to Hong Kong and thus driving tourism development.
The CSTB will collaborate with various sectors of the society and the tourism industry to launch various promotional initiatives. One of the key events is the HELLO PANDAS Carnival, an outdoor event themed around giant pandas to be held from December 11 to 21 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazzas. Jointly organised by the China Tourism Group, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong as well as The Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association, and undertaken by the China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited, the Carnival will feature a diverse range of activities, including art installations, interactive performance, cultural and creative fair, photography exhibition. The Carnival will be open to all for free.
The CSTB and the HKTB also fully support the large-scale event PANDA GO! FEST HK hosted by a creative brand ARR (AllRightsReserved). A giant panda roving exhibition will be staged on three consecutive Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays starting from December 7. More details about the event will be announced shortly.
In addition, the CSTB and the HKTB will also produce a new television promotional video, in which the giant panda family and their friends will experience four unique tours in Hong Kong, including (1) explore the stunning world-class natural scenery; (2) enjoy delicious food from all over the world from local food to Michelin-award-winning restaurants; (3) indulge in the artistic atmosphere of world-class cultural museums and art galleries; and (4) experience the excitement of major events at Kai Tak Sports Park. The HKTB will also use the same theme of the event to stimulate a craze for giant pandas across the city. The six giant pandas can be seen in MTR stations, the Central Pier, the Mid-Levels escalators, and large outdoor advertisements in downtown areas.
The Government will continue to seize the opportunity brought by the arrival of the giant pandas and connect different sectors of the society to actively plan and launch more promotional activities related to the giant pandas, thereby generating business opportunities for different sectors and boosting the economy.
CSTB announces series of giant panda promotion activities Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CSTB announces series of giant panda promotion activities Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CSTB announces series of giant panda promotion activities Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
