Breastfeeding in public encouraged by various municipalities in the Northwest of the province

Edmundston, September 26, 2017 – Various municipalities in the Northwest received a certificate of thanks today from the Public Health office in zone 4 for their active participation in the “Breastfeeding Friendly Communities” initiative designed to promote and support breastfeeding in public.

This project was launched to encourage mothers to breastfeed their children for a longer period of time. Although research has shown an upward trend in the breastfeeding rate in the province since 2006, approximately 70% of New Brunswick mothers do not continue breastfeeding for the recommended six-month period or discontinue breastfeeding before reaching their initial objective. “Our objective is to encourage municipalities to create environments that are supportive of breastfeeding, where mothers can breastfeed comfortably without being harassed and where they feel actively supported in their effort to feed their child”, stated Janie St-Onge, public health dietitian and coordinator for the “Breastfeeding Friendly Communities” initiative. “Through this initiative, we wish to increase the exclusive breastfeeding rates and duration”, she added. 

The project was very well received by Vitalité Health Network. “We are confident in the success generated by the implementation of this initiative and are very pleased to see that municipalities in the Northwest helped make it happen,” stated Gilles Lanteigne, President and CEO. “This initiative is aligned with the major policy directions pursued in our 2017-2020 strategic plan, which seek to improve people’s health by increasing health promotion programs in collaboration with community partners,” he continued.

Here are the Northwestern municipalities that implemented a policy to that effect:

  • Kedgwick;
  • Edmundston;
  • Lac Baker;
  • Saint Léonard;
  • Saint-André;
  • Grand Falls;
  • Drummond;
  • Rivière Verte;
  • Sainte Anne de Madawaska;
  • Saint-Quentin and Haut-Madawaska.

An information booth on breastfeeding, prepared by the local “Baby-Friendly initiative” committee, will be held on Saturday, October 7 at 11 a.m. at the Edmundston Convention Centre, as part of the Salon du Mieux-Être d’Edmundston (Edmundston wellness show). Breastfeeding mothers are invited to attend and make the symbolic gesture of latching on during the event.