The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care invested more than $2.5 million in the Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) Implementation Strategy, an initiative aimed at helping families give their infants a sound nutritional start. The purpose of the BFI Strategy is to enhance breastfeeding in Ontario by providing health organizations, including CHCs and AHACs with the tools, guidance and educational resources to help achieve World Health Organization’s BFI designation. The BFI Strategy is a globally recognized standard of care shown to promote, protect and support breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact.
In partnership with Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health and the Best Start Resource Centre at Health Nexus, the Toronto East General Hospital (TEGH) is leading the BFI Strategy. The partners have developed two toolkits that will help hospitals and agencies meet the WHO BFI standard. Along with many other enthusiastic guests, AOHC attended the BFI media launch at the TEGH on October 2nd. Janice Golding from CTV Toronto, Rob Devitt, CEO of TEGH, and Dr. Popovic, medical director at TEGH, kicked off the media launch with their positive remarks on the BFI strategy. The stories of mothers who have benefitted from the initiatives that have been implemented at TEGH as a result of the BFI designation were powerful.
We know that breast milk is widely acknowledged as the most complete form of nutrition for infants, with a range of benefits for infants’ health, growth, immunity and development. The BFI strategy not only supports and promotes breastfeeding, but also skin-to-skin contact within the first hour of birth, informed decision-making and support for all families.
In 2007, Somerset West CHC received the first BFI designation, followed by Centretown CHC in 2012 and Carlington CHC in 2015. Although these CHCs admit that the implementation stage was challenging, they are very proud to be a BFI designated health organization in Ontario.
Across Ontario, TEGH is hosting workshops to inform health professionals from all hospitals, CHCs, AHACs and NPLCs on how they can get started in implementing the BFI strategy within their own organizations. Participation at these workshops is free and all attendees will receive the implementation toolkit. For a list of upcoming workshops and registration, please click here.
