Point Fortin Hospital deemed baby-friendly by PAHO/WHO

THE Point Fortin Hospital (PFH) has received accreditation status as a baby-friendly hospital from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

It is the third hospital to receive accreditation, after Mt Hope Maternity and Sangre Grande Hospitals. Tobago, Port of Spain  and San Fernando general hospitals are next on the list.

At the unveiling ceremony to certify PFH as a baby-friendly institution on August 14, PAHO/WHO representative for Trinidad and Tobago and the Dutch entities Dr Gabriel Vivas Francesconi called for the reporting of and sanctions against manufacturers and distributors of baby-milk substitutes which violated international codes.

Francesaconi spoke on the importance of observing the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes, which includes infant formulas, bottles and nipples which can undermine breastfeeding efforts.

“I want to take this moment to encourage the monitoring and adherence of this code and the application of sanctions to manufacturers and distributors who are in violation.”

Speaking to an audience that included Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, medical director of the Point Fortin Hospital Dr Robin Sinanan and CEO of the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) Dr Brian Armour, Francesconi said any such violations, such as inappropriate promotion of baby-milk formulas, should be met with sanctions.

“PAHO supports reporting on the monitoring of the marketing of breast-milk substitutes and provides guidelines to prevent the inappropriate promotion of these products.”

Noting the importance of the accreditation status, Francesconi pointed out that exclusive breastfeeding is one of the pillars to combat childhood obesity and the development of non-communicable diseases.

“When we invest in the health of our children, we invest in our nation. The positive ripple effect is extended beyond the hospital walls – stronger families, healthier communities, all contributing to a more prosperous country.”

He said the goal was to ensure all babies were born in a world where they were the priority.

Agreeing with the principle, Deyalsingh said in years past, breastfeeding came naturally to women, who breastfed their children up until age two.

“In those days we did not have to teach mothers how to breastfeed. Today, you have to teach mothers how to breastfeed, something that is natural to all mammalian species, whether it is a cow, goat, dog.

“We don’t have to teach cows and dogs how to breastfeed, but we now have to teach humans how to do that, and we call that development. We call that progress.
"We have progressed to the point where we have to teach mothers the three ‘P’s’ of breastfeeding – practice, persistence, patience.”

He described breast milk as the perfect food for babies, underscoring that it had no expiry date, it was free and the benefits were innumerable.

Starting with colostrum, often referred to as "liquid gold," Deyalsingh said there was no comparison to this, as well as the transitional and adult-milk and substitute-milk formulas.

Colostrum is the first milk the body produces during pregnancy and is nutrient-dense and high in protein and white blood cells that produce antibodies, and low in fat and sugar,.

“Breast milk is far superior,” he said, noting that formula comes from another species, the cow.

“You don’t see cows asking for human milks, but humans are asking another species for milk for our babies.”

He said studies had shown that breast-fed babies had lower rates of ear infection, diarrhoea and gastro-intestinal problems. Understanding that in the changing world women had to go back to work after three months, Deyalsingh encouraged them to express and freeze their milk.