World Breastfeeding Week in Hong Kong

World Breastfeeding Week Around the World: Hong Kong WBW in other countries

Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Hong Kong Association (BFHIHKA) was formed in 1992 to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding in Hong Kong. Over the years, we have held various Breastfeeding courses and played an important role in the training of health professionals, especially nurses, to promote and support breastfeeding. BFHIHKA also operates a breastfeeding hotline to help nursing mothers cope with common problems and ease their worries. We publish a newsletter twice a year to share breastfeeding information and updates with members and the public. To protect the breastfeeding environment, we try to monitor the infant formula manufacturers’ marketing conduct in Hong Kong. When we encounter some Code-violating behaviour, we send protest letters to the formula company, the media and other concerned parties.

Being one of the biggest breastfeeding-support groups in Hong Kong, we keep observing the breastfeeding trend in Hong Kong. Every year, we conduct a survey on the breastfeeding rate, and the hospitals’ practices of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, as well as the Code violation as observed in the hospital settings. Annually, in celebration of the WBW, we hold a press conference and release the survey reports to the public to raise awareness. We value the enduring benefits of breastfeeding and hope that mothers, families and the community can make informed decision about optimal infant feeding.

2006 WBW Activities in Hong Kong

        Survey
        Banner Production
        WBW Press Conference
        Animation Production Competition

Survey

Every year, the BFHIHKA conducts a survey on the breastfeeding rate at discharge and the practice of the “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” in hospitals as promulgated by UNICEF and WHO. Part of the survey covered hospitals’ observation to Code violation by infant food companies in Hong Kong. In May, questionnaires were sent to 17 local hospitals with maternity units. The survey report will be released in the WBW press conference on 29 July this year.

Banner Production

As the theme of WBW this year is “Code Watch”, we have visited supermarkets, pharmacies, clinics and hospitals to check out current situations of Code violations in Hong Kong. Photos are taken and used in the design of some pull-up banners. The content of the banners are written in both Chinese and English. They will be displayed in the venue of our WBW press conference.

WBW Press Conference

In commemoration of the WBW, we will hold a press conference on 29 July. Representatives from the Hospital Authority and the Department of Health will speak on their department’s support to breastfeeding. In view of the theme of “Code Watch” this year, we have also invited a representative of the Consumer Council in Hong Kong to be our guest speaker. She will share the result of a recent research on companies’ Code violating behaviour, and also inform the public of some unethical marketing practice by the infant formula manufacturers in Hong Kong.

Animation Production Competition

In order to arouse public awareness to the problem of Code violations in Hong Kong, we will hold an animation production competition open for all. Participants need to submit an animation which lasts not longer than 5 minutes on or before 14 October 2006. The theme of the animation is “Code Watch”. Participants will introduce one or more examples of Code violations in Hong Kong by means of cartoon animation or flash games. For more information, please visit www.unicef.org.hk or email us at bfhi@unicef.org.hk

Contact us

Phone: (852) 2591 0782
Fax: (852) 2338 5521
Address: G/F, Luen Hop Building, 168-170 Junction Road, Lok Fu, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Email: bfhi@unicef.org.hk
Website: www.unicef.org.hk / www.babyfriendly.org.hk (under construction)