The RCN pledges its support for the Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition as part of National Breastfeeding Awareness Week
Published: 24 August 2007
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today pledged its support for the Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition due to be launched on 16 May 2007 as part of National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (13-19 May).
Dr Peter Carter, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said: “The RCN is delighted to be a member of this very important Coalition and support wholeheartedly the seven objectives of the Manifesto.
“We see promoting and protecting breastfeeding as an important public health issue.
Women who chose to breast feed need clear consistent information and plenty of support from family, friends and health care professionals and we believe these objectives will help achieve this.
“Breast milk is proven to reduce infections, illness and hospital admissions of babies and children and can save the lives of preterm infants.
“Breastfeeding can also protect the long term health of women and reduces the risk of breast cancer.
“We are delighted by the breadth of support for this Manifesto and encourage our members to visit the website (www.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk), sign up and encourage their local MPs to do the same.”
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Notes to Editors
The RCN is a member of the Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition and is working towards a society where:
· Women feel enabled to initiate and continue breastfeeding for as long as they wish
· Parents are supported to make informed choices about feeding their babies
· Everyone is aware of the significant benefits associated with breastfeeding
The RCN supports the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative in setting standards to promote, protect and support breastfeeding.
The Breastfeeding Manifesto
The Breastfeeding Manifesto was produced in 2006 by over twenty UK organisations working to improve awareness of the health benefits of breastfeeding and its role in reducing health inequalities.
The aim of the Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition is to achieve widespread cross-party support for the Breastfeeding Manifesto, and to ensure that its principles are reflected in government policy and legislation in the UK.
Specifically, the Coalition’s aim is to ensure that the Manifesto is adopted by all of the UK’s main political parties by the time of the next General Election.
During this year’s National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (13-19 May), the Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition have come together with the aim of attracting more than half of all MPs across the UK to add their support to the Manifesto.
For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/news/mediacentre.php
To view the Manifesto go to: http://www.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk/doc/breastfeeding_manifesto.pdf
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.