The Department of Health marked World Breastfeeding Week 2019 today with an event to protect, promote and support breastfeeding through enhancing cross-sectoral collaboration.

In collaboration with the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Hong Kong Association, the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF and the Hospital Authority, the department held the event to call for community support for breastfeeding.

Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan noted that the local breastfeeding rate has been increasing steadily in the past 20 years.

The breastfeeding rate on hospital discharge recorded a significant increase from 51% in 1998 to 88% in 2018, while the exclusive breastfeeding rate among four-month-old babies grew from 6% to 29% in the same period.

Prof Chan noted the Food & Health Bureau set up the Committee on Promotion of Breastfeeding in 2014 to enhance the sustainability of breastfeeding and promote it as a norm for baby care widely accepted by the general public.

The Government has implemented initiatives in accordance with the committee’s recommendations on various fronts, she added.

Prof Chan also said two Housing Authority hospitals have been accredited as baby friendly hospitals, while the private Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital also joined the initiative last year.

Meanwhile, three Maternal & Child Health Centres are working through the final level of accreditation under the Baby-Friendly Maternal & Child Health Centre Designation pilot scheme.

The health chief pointed out that the Government has been proactively promoting the provision of baby care facilities in government premises and public venues.

To date, more than 320 baby care rooms have been set up in the premises of government departments and organisations.

In the wider community, more than 130 venues, including restaurants, shopping malls, public transport facilities and theme parks, have shown support and provided a breastfeeding-friendly environment.

The Government will continue to work with various sectors and organisations to put forward more breastfeeding-friendly initiatives.

Click here for more details.