n a Press Release issued
June 24, 1996, UNICEF New York announced a doubling of the number
of Baby-Friendly Hospitals around the world since the beginning
of the year. The total now is 7,779, up from 4,282 recorded at
the end of 1995.
Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF, explains, "This exponential growth is the result of a strong partnership with governments, NGOs, and individual hospitals. The Baby-Friendly movement has provided a tangible goal to countless organizations that have been advocating the importance of breastfeeding."
INFACT notes that although some hospitals in Canada have made significant changes to support breastfeeding and implement the Ten Steps, contracts with infant formula companies for free supplies remain an obstacle to designation. To date there are no designated Baby-Friendly Hospitals in Canada.
1. UNICEF, The World is Turning Baby-Friendly Press Release, June 24, 1996, UNICEF New York. Back