On Tuesday 9th January, Virendra Sharma MP, Ealing Southall, backed the Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative Call to Action campaign on breastfeeding and has committed to Champion Unicef UK’s Call to Action campaign in Parliament, Support their local health services and communities to become Baby Friendly, and Make their workplace breastfeeding friendly. Unicef UK is calling on government to tackle the UK’s low breastfeeding rates and improve the health of children by leading action to remove the barriers – social, cultural, economic, physical and practical – that make it difficult for women to breastfeed in the UK. Powerful new evidence provides a compelling case to alter UK attitudes and practices, both locally and nationally, in order to support women to breastfeed for as long as they wish.
Virendra Sharma said, “There is overwhelming evidence that breastfeeding gives babies the best possible start; it improves health and cuts costs. And yet the UK has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world, with only 34% of babies receiving any breastmilk at six months, compared with 71% in Norway, despite the World Health Organization recommendation that all babies are exclusively breastfed for six months. A number of my constituents have got in touch to bring this issue to my attention, so I know how important it is for mothers, families and health professionals in Ealing Southall.”
Sue Ashmore, Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative Director said, “We want to change the conversation around breastfeeding and acknowledge the collective responsibility of us all. We need to recognise that improving the UK’s low breastfeeding rates requires action across government, healthcare and community settings to build systems that support women and families. It is fantastic to have the support of Virendra Sharma. By making this pledge, they are showing that they know breastfeeding is a vitally important public health issue and are committed to taking action to support it.”
