Many new mothers sometimes ask themselves this question: Will I be able to produce enough milk to support my baby? Without the right support, many turn to formula to meet their newborn’s nutritional needs during early days.
If you’re from the parish of St Mary, help is available, as the Port Maria Hospital has been recertified as baby-friendly.
They join 12 other facilities islandwide that are committed to promoting breastfeeding as the norm and optimising newborn care.
The hospital was first certified as baby-friendly in 2019 and must be recertified every three years. Unfortunately, COVID-19 and major natural disasters delayed the recertification.
UNICEF Jamaica Nutrition Officer Vonetta Nurse described the accomplishment as extraordinary and a testament to the discipline, teamwork, and unwavering dedication of the staff at the facility.
She commended the team for following global best practices and ensuring that every mother and newborn receive dignified, respectful, evidence-based care from the very first moments of life.
