B R E A ST F E E D I N G P E E R SU P P O R T : M A L AY SI A ’ S E X P E R I E N CE BY SITI NORJINAH MOIN PRESIDENT M ALAYSIAN BREASTFEEDING ASSOCIATION
M alaysian Breastfeeding Association • Founded in 1974, it is a non-profit voluntary organization with advocacy towards the protection, promotion and support breastfeeding. • Recognized internationally as a source of accurate information about breastfeeding management. • M embers are parents, breastfeeding mothers, interested individuals and health professionals such as doctors, lactation consultants and midwives.
OUR MISSION • Give mother-to-mother support to pregnant and breastfeeding women. • Give all babies their first immunization, the best early start to a better quality and healthy live • Become M alaysian’s leading source of breastfeeding information and support.
WHY PEER SUPPORT • Informed choice for pregnant women and their spouses • Encourage breastfeeding during and after birth • Support mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies up to 6 months • Help them to continue until 2 years or beyond
BREASTFEEDING PEER SUPPORT • Encourage and support pregnant women and those who are currently breastfeeding. • This include psycho-emotional support, encouragement, education about breastfeeding and help with solving problems.
M ISSION STATEM ENT Build partnerships for health and breastfeeding to facilitate and support the community to: • M otivate them to practice and appreciate health and breastfeeding as a valuable asset • Take positive action to further improve and sustain their breastfeeding and health status to enjoy a better quality of live
SM ART P ARTNERSHIP • Forum and Annual Dialogue Session with : • - M inistry of Health • - M inistry of Women, Family and Community Development • - UNICEF and WHO Issues pertaining to breastfeeding are discussed and resolved in this forum
AREAS OF INVOL VEMENT • Organizing public awareness campaigns - talks, public forum, exhibitions, walks, etc • Supporting health programmes and campaigns of the M inistry of Health at national and state level • - Healthy Lifestyle Programme • - World Breastfeeding Week • - World Diabetes Day • - National & International Womens’ Day
WORKING WITH LOCAL NGOS Diabetic Society • Nutrition Society • Red Crescent Society • Federation of Family Planning Board • M alaysian Nursing Board • PUSP ANITA - Association of Civil Servant • Malaysia Heart Foundation • Malaysian Consultative Council of Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism • M alaysian Aids Council • National Council Women Organisation • M alaysian Trade Union Congress • National Union for Bank Employees • Malaysian Association for Childcare Providers • CancerLink •
NETWORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION • United Nations Children’s Fund • World Health Organisation • Baby M ilk Action • World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action • International Baby Food Action Network • Le Leche League International • Australian Breastfeeding Association • International Code Documentation Centre • Coalition of Breastfeeding Phillippines • Breastfeeding Promotion Network India
OUR ACTIVITIES • Discussion meeting for mothers • Answering telephone counselling • Breastfeeding education seminars • World Breastfeeding Week activities • Conferences for health professionals and breastfeeding advocates. • Publication on breastfeeding materials
TRAINING AND COURSES - WHO/ UNICEF 40 hours Breastfeeding Counselling Training – WHO/ UNICEF 20 hours BFHI course – Breastfeeding and Lactation M anagement Course – M other to M other Peer Support courses and workshop. – International Code Training – Childbirth Educator Course – Birth Doula Training of Trainers – Post Partum Training of Trainers – Infant M assage : A Training Course – International Board of Lactation Consultant Examination (Workshops)
Partners M inistry of Women, M inistry of Health Family and Community -Nutrition Division M inistry of Information Development -Division of Family Health and - Family Planning Division Development -Food Safety Division Ministry of Education M alaysian -Division of School Ministry of Y outh and Co-curriculum Breastfeeding and Sports - Universities and Association Colleges Trade Unions M inistry of Defense -M alaysian Trade -Military Hospitals Union Congress - Family M edical Centers -National Union of Bank Employees
SUPPORTING ROLE Assessed and trained for BFHI Code of Ethics on Infant Formula Displinary Committee on the Violation of the Code, the National Nutritional Plan of Action
CHOOSING COUNSELLORS • Peer Counsellors Criteria: - M ust be a breastfeeding mother - Breastfed for at least 9 months - Have good communication skills - Willing to listen and have patience - Willing to volunteer time
STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES • Lack of funds as there are no annual grants to run office and pay staffs • Lack personnel who can work full time always depending on volunteers who are having full time job with other commitments • Depending on project funding (eg: training of Peer M other Support and World Breastfeeding Week) • No incentives to subsidize or allocate allowance for counsellors to support breastfeeding mothers (eg: telephone bills, transportation etc).
STRENGTHS OF BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUPS • Dedicated personnel and volunteers who are committed and knowledgeable about breastfeeding • They have good networking with health professionnels, the community and private sector
HOW SUSTAIN M OTHER SUPPORT Encourage young adults to go on the internet (Facebook, • Twitter, Blogs) for breastfeeding information T o propose relevant agencies to allocate annual grant • Grant for tax exemption so that corporate agencies can • fund projects Fund raising projects to generate sufficient fund to • continue breastfeeding work Encourage govt and private sectors to have childcare • facilities with trained breastfeeding counsellors Proposing all states DOH and partners to cooperate and • organize Breastfeeding Awareness M onth by rotation. On-going training for peer mother support groups •
Working M others and Breastfeeding
Working M others and Breastfeeding
Working M others and Breastfeeding
Working M others and Breastfeeding
World Breastfeeding Week
World Breastfeeding Week
World Breastfeeding Week
World Breastfeeding Week
World Breastfeeding Week
Publication M aterials
Publication M aterials
Publication M aterials
FUTURE AREAS OF COOPERATION Advocacy and development of breastfeeding public policy – • eg. buildings and public areas Encourage the govt to rectify the ILO Convention Resolution • on 2 hourly breastfeeding break Provision of support service at workplace • M aternity protection adopt more maternity leave for the • private sector M obilizing community action to protect breastfeeding • Developing, pre-testing and distribution of breastfeeding • educational materials for M OE. Focusing on youth and young adults Conducting research and evaluating breastfeeding • campaigns
THANK YOU
Recommend
More recommend
