Canada Breastfeeds News

CPS takes baby steps to endorse breastfeeding and support for Code

In the wake of a string of criticisms directed at the Canadian Pediatric Society for its glaring participation in artificial feeding promotions, most notably the inclusion of the CPS “Questions and Answers” produced with sponsorship from an infant formula company and included in a two tin gift pack, the CPS released a cautiously worded statement, “Breastfeeding provides healthy babies with the best source of nutrition in early infancy.”

Furthermore the incoming society president, John Watts, claimed the society’s “unanimous support for the International Code. The CPS policy is that we will not be party to any contraventions of the WHO Code. Specifically we will not be involved in the distribution or promotion of breast-milk substitutes.” Lets hold them to it!

Ontario for Society of Nutritionist Professionals in Public Health

In a letter to the University of Guelph, College of Family and Consumer Studies, Mary-Jo Makarchuk, Co-Chair of the OSNPPH, writing on behalf of the association, states, “It is known that Canadian women who could most benefit from breastfeeding, those with the lowest levels of education and socio-economic status, have the highest rates of bottle-feeding. Therefore there is a need to promote, protect and support breastfeeding in Canada.

“It is of concern to the members of the OSNPPH that the undergraduate nutrition program contains a balance of perspectives. If industry representatives have been invited into the classroom to lecture undergraduates, it seems justified that you invite representatives from Public Health or INFACT who will strongly present the other side of the issue to students.”

Saskatchewan first in breastfeeding promotion

The Breastfeeding Committee for Saskatchewan has taken the theme, Breastfeeding: Nature’s Way and produced a beautiful poster Breastfeeding: First Nations First Choice. This poster is available to other breastfeeding groups to use with their logo and their slogan. Contact the Committee through Jean Burry at (306) 445-7866.

But this isn’t all the Committee is doing. In addition to their Network News, a breastfeeding calendar is planned and a two-day conference for November 13 and 14. (See below.)

Described as a giant leap forward the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SHAO) in their March 1997 Annual Convention unanimously approved resolution G2 put forward by the Battleford District Health Board, “Be it resolved that the Baby-Friendly Initiative and the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding be endorsed as a worthy goal for SAHO member agencies, and recommended to Saskatchewan Health.” Advocacy does eventually work!