@shjbabyfriendly World-renowned Infant-Feeding expert tours Sharjah as emirate emerges as an international role model of baby-friendliness

Sharjah Baby-Friendly campaign hosts Randa Saadeh to enhance its Baby-Friendly Hospitals initiative through knowledge exchange and workshops

In further evidence of the emirate’s rise into an international role model of baby-friendliness, Sharjah has hosted the internationally respected Consultant, Educator and Lecturer on Infant and Child-Feeding, Ms Randa Saadeh. Ms Saadeh has enormous experience in this field, having previously served as a coordinator of the Nutrition in the Lifecourse Department and led the work related to IYCF & BFHI for over 25 years at the World Health Organization (WHO). Her specialized expertise in the assessment and designation of baby-friendly hospitals will greatly help the Sharjah Baby-Friendly campaign to raise the already impressive standards at its health facilities even further. Ms Saadeh presented a four-day series of workshops in various locations around Sharjah.

Baby-friendly hospitals are one of the four pillars of the campaign, alongside baby-friendly nurseries, workplaces and public places. In line with the campaign’s goal of raising the standards of baby-friendliness to the highest world-class levels, the Assessor Training Program ran from October 27^th – 31^st .

Commenting on the workshops and tour, Dr Hessa Khalfan Al Ghazal, Director of the Executive Committee of the Sharjah Baby Friendly Emirate Campaign said: “In these four days, we gained many years worth of experience because Ms Saadeh has traveled all over the world and contributed to international success stories. However this was a two-way knowledge exchange because Sharjah also has many lessons to share, and our successes can inspire other countries.”

The workshops covered some hot-button topics that have become big talking points worldwide, such as “Acceptable medical reasons for use of breast milk substitutes”; “Worldwide progress in breastfeeding” and “Seven points for baby-friendly health centers”. A series of revealing interviews were conducted with post-partum mothers (including a mother who is feeding her infant artificial formula), staff as well as a care provider.

The chairpersons and facilitators of the workshops and clinical practice included Dr Hessa Al Ghazal, Dr Khawla Salman - Technical Coordinator of the UAE’s National Breastfeeding Program & Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative; Dr Evelyn Ruf - Head of the SBF’s Scientific Committee; Dr Latefa Al Awadhi - Head of Dubai’s Maternal & Child Health Department; and Ms Saadeh herself. Dr Hager Alhosani - Director of Central Maternal & Child Health at the UAE Ministry of Health,was among the high-profile line-up of speakers.    

Ms Randa Saadeh further explained the importance of her tour of Sharjah: “Health facilities are the first line of defense in raising breastfeeding rates, because they interact with mothers before, during and after childbirth. I came here to help use the vast experience I gained at the WHO to suggest areas where Sharjah can improve even further on its outstanding achievements, based on what has worked in other countries.

In return, I also learned some of the innovative activities that have been implemented in Sharjah’s health facilities. This emirate can be a shining example of how various partners can collaborate for the good of our children and mothers.”

The Sharjah Baby Friendly Emirate Campaign was initiated in March 2012 under the generous patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Budoor bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and President of the Campaign. The campaign encompasses four initiatives: Breastfeeding-Friendly Nurseries, Mother and Baby-Friendly Public Places, Mother-Friendly Workplaces and Baby-Friendly Health Facilities. The campaign is sponsored by Sharjah Islamic Bank.