I refer to the letter from executive manager (professional services) of the Hospital Authority Dr Lina Li, in defence of the authority's policy on breast-feeding (South China Morning Post, July 14).
She states that, 'Every mother is shown how to breast-feed in proper techniques during her stay at post-natal wards.' This implies that ward staff are themselves all aware of the proper techniques and are able to educate and support new nursing mothers. While I am sure the situation is better than it was a few years ago, there are still many cases of mothers being misinformed and even discouraged from breast-feeding within public hospitals, and of babies routinely being given pacifiers or bottles of water or formula, all of which make it difficult to get breast-feeding started successfully.
However, it is her assertion that direct distribution of free samples by milk companies is prohibited, that is most disturbing. Formula salesmen do not personally stroll around the wards handing out tins, but that is beside the point. The fact is that the Hospital Authority freely distributes formula to new mothers, a practice that presents an obstacle to encouraging breast-feeding and is also in contravention of World Health Organisation and Unicef recommendations.
An even more worrying trend is the distribution of ready-prepared formula in disposable bottles which adds an estimated half a million plastic bottles and teats a year to Hong Kong's landfills.
It is great to see that the Hospital Authority is finally addressing the issue of breast-feeding in Hong Kong.
It is a health issue with community-wide implications. But before it blows its own trumpet, perhaps the authority should wait until Hong Kong no longer has one of the lowest breast-feeding rates in the developed world.