1 February 2008

One in five new mums visits the Baby Café & Associate Health Minister, Steve Chadwick, to meet with some of them today.

Associate Health Minister, Steve Chadwick, is in Hawke’s Bay today to meet mothers, babies and the team of volunteers who run New Zealand’s only Baby Café, located on the Hawke’s Bay Hospital campus.

The Baby Café opened in 2004 and provides free, professional breastfeeding support and advice in a friendly environment. It’s a stand-alone service run by a small team of volunteers with the DHB providing the premises and qualified lactation consultants who staff the drop-in clinics held three mornings a week.

Hawke’s Bay District Health Board chief executive officer, Chris Clarke, said the Baby Café was meeting an important need in the community. “Last year the service had 1230 visitors, including 487 new mums who visited with their babies. That represents one in five women who gave birth in Hawke’s Bay who are seeking help and support with breastfeeding,” he said.

“We know ‘Breast is best’ and it’s proven that babies who are breast-fed have better health as a result which is why I’m delighted the DHB continues to partner with the Baby Café team to provide this service for Hawke’s Bay families.

“Improving the rate of breastfeeding is a priority for us and part of the Ministry of Health’s Healthy Eating Healthy Action campaign which we are implementing locally. Hawke’s Bay District Health Board will continue to support those who are supporting Hawke’s Bay families to give their babies the best start in life,” Chris Clarke said.

ENDS

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