Government announces new money to promote breastfeeding

The government has announced additional funding during World Breastfeeding Week to help more women in England to breastfeed their children.

In total, two million pounds of extra money will be given in an attempt to boost the UK’s breastfeeding rate, which is currently one of the lowest in Europe.

Money will be used to help hospitals in disadvantaged areas gain Unicef Baby-Friendly Status.

Such status covers a set of standards for best practice for community services and maternity units to promote, protect and support breastfeeding.

The Department of Health will monitor the success of any efforts by assessing the prevalence of breastfeeding at six to eight weeks in all primary care trusts.

Dawn Primarolo, public health minister, said: “By international standards not enough women breastfeed in England.

This money will help more mums – particularly those in more deprived areas – to breastfeed and to do so for longer.”

She added the government wants to make sure women know the importance of breastfeeding and the benefits it offers to both themselves and their babies.

In June 2008, the government revealed 91 per cent of new mothers in Lambeth tried breastfeeding, compared to 33 per cent in Knowsley, Merseyside.