Chairperson Calls for All Businesses to Welcome Breastfeeding

Chairperson Calls for All Businesses to Welcome Breastfeeding

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Charlie Casey is calling on all local businesses and organisations to join the Public Health Agency’s Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme.

The Council joined the scheme in November 2018 and is currently in the process of signing up additional facilities such as community centres.

Councillor Casey said, “The benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers and their babies is well known and we are keen to make breastfeeding easier for local mums.

“This initiative is aimed at encouraging businesses and organisations to join the campaign to welcome breastfeeding in any area of their premises. The scheme makes it easier for mums to find places where they can breastfeed their baby when they are out and about.

“This year Breastfeeding Awareness Week takes place from Thursday 1 August to Wednesday 7 August 2019. I would be delighted to see a big increase in the number of businesses and organisations in the district which are signed up to this very worthwhile initiative.”

Janet Calvert, Regional Breastfeeding Lead for the Public Health Authority said, “While mums can of course breastfeed anywhere they wish to, the scheme aims to provide supportive environments and show public support for breastfeeding mums.

“Breastfeeding should be seen as part of everyday life, as it is good for baby and good for mum, and the more it happens the more normalised it becomes. Breastfeeding helps give babies the best start in life and showing increased support for breastfeeding mums is really important, as we have one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe.

“It is a straightforward process to join the Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme. All businesses and organisations which decide to join up will be listed on the website www.breastfedbabies.org through an interactive map.”

A full list of companies and organisations who participate in the Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme can be found at www.breastfedbabies.org

The Breastfeeding Welcome Here Scheme is an initiative which makes it easier for mums to recognise places where they can breastfeed when they are out and about with their baby. This scheme was developed by the Public Health Agency NI. Over 700 businesses and council facilities in Northern Ireland are members of the scheme.

If your business is interested in joining over 700 businesses and Council facilities who are members of the scheme, or if you would like further details, please contact: Emma O’Hagan, Health Inequalities Officer, 0300 013 2233.