News from Cambridge Health Alliance
January 28, 2010
Cambridge Birth Center Receives Prestigious International
Award
Cambridge, MA…The
Cambridge Birth Center, one of the many women's health services
of Cambridge Health Alliance, was recently honored as a Baby-Friendly(™)
birth facility by the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI).
BFHI is an organization created by the United Nations Children's
Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization to recognize the
important role health care providers and maternity centers play
in establishing the best environment for breastfeeding.
BFHI accredits maternity and community facilities that adopt internationally
recognized standards of best practice in the care of mothers and
babies. While there are almost 19,000 designated Baby-Friendly facilities
in the world, only 86 are located in the United States. In order
to receive this prestigious honor, the Center completed a rigorous
assessment and improvement process designed to promote, protect,
and support breastfeeding which included interviews and training
with staff as well as meetings with patients.
"This designation is a real achievement and underscores our
commitment to nurturing and promoting breastfeeding in the communities
we serve," said Kate Reist, IBCLC, Cambridge Health
Alliance's lactation consultant. "It will go a long way to
encourage breastfeeding, which is seen as a vital aid to increasing
the health of mothers and babies alike."
Sarah Coulter Danner, MSN, CNM, acting president of the Board of
Directors of Baby-Friendly USA, presented the award at a ceremony
at the Cambridge Birth Center on January 19. Baby-Friendly USA is
the U.S. authority for the implementation of BFHI. More information
is available at www.babyfriendlyusa.org.
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