The Hong Kong Committee for Unicef applauds and commends the efforts made by Lisa Milliner as described in her letter ("Hospital out of touch on breastfeeding", August 24).
The World Health Organisation and Unicef launched the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiatives (BFHI) in 1991 to encourage maternity units to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. The BFHI Hong Kong Association was formed in 1994 with the aim to promote breastfeeding and protect infant and maternal health in Hong Kong.
According to survey results published by the association in July, the breastfeeding rate on discharge from hospitals in 2011 was 83.3 per cent. This marked a significant improvement as the initiation rate was only 60 per cent 10 years ago.
As more mothers in Hong Kong embark on breastfeeding, they, like Ms Milliner, need encouragement and support to sustain their efforts rather than being made to feel disheartened for giving their best to their child.
In fact, in celebration of World Breastfeeding Week earlier this month, the association co-organised a photo and slogan campaign to protect mothers' right to "Breastfeed: Anywhere, Any Time".
The benefits of breastfeeding and risks of artificial feeding are sufficiently well-established to make breastfeeding an important public health issue.