The Lower Sunshine Coast Baby-Friendly Initiative Committee, a subcommittee of Maternal Infant Committee, has invited Dr. Jack Newman to the Sunshine Coast to share his knowledge on breastfeeding with the community, from parents to professionals, in one of three free presentations on March 6 and 7.
Newman is a world-renowned Canadian physician who specializes in the support and advocacy of breastfeeding. He has helped breastfeeding mothers and babies for over 38 years and is the author of Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding and Breastfeeding: Empowering Parents.
The Baby-Friendly Initiative Committee’s goal is to advance and ultimately achieve Baby-Friendly Initiative status, a 10-step process to implement practices that protect, promote and support breastfeeding in public health and the Sechelt Hospital.
“Breastfeeding offers extensive and well-established benefits and is recognized as an extremely effective preventative health measure for mothers, babies and communities,” says Sandra Grant of Vancouver Coastal Health.
Shirley French, Sunshine Coast Community Services Society (SCCSS) Family Resource Programs lead, believes that Newman’s visit to the Coast “helps us to encourage coastal residents to remain a breast feeding-friendly community and, in turn, a supportive and healthy environment to have kids and raise a family.”
Newman will be participating in three free presentations on the Coast: Babies and Breastfeeding is one of Sechelt Hospital Foundation’s MedTalks to promote health and wellness. Newman, along with Sandra Squires, a public health nurse at the Gibsons Health Unit, will discuss breastfeeding and the support and resources available on the Sunshine Coast. The event is on Wednesday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Chatelech Secondary School. Register for this event by email to [email protected] or call 604-885-8637.
Breastfeeding for Professionals, the second presentation, is designed to update the breastfeeding knowledge of local professionals so they can better serve the community. This event is on Thursday, March 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Raven’s Cry Theatre (5555 Sunshine Coast Highway).
Meet Dr. Jack Newman will be held at SCCSS’s Bellies and Babies room at Gibsons and Area Community Centre on March 7, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. This baby-friendly event allows Newman to connect with local families and answer their specific breastfeeding questions and concerns. For more information on this event, see www.sccss.ca.
– Submitted
