Atherton Hospital maternity unit staff had another reason to celebrate this International Day of the Midwife, after the hospital was awarded Baby Friendly Initiative Accreditation.
The accreditation, awarded by BFHI (Baby Friendly Health Initiative) Australia, with reviews carried out by the Australian College of Midwives, means the unit meets a global standard for care to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
‘The accreditation means a mother and her family are receiving the same consistent level of support and information across the hospital, even if they struggle to, or choose not to breastfeed,’ Maternity Unit Manager Dean Stevens said.
‘We achieved accreditation in February on our first attempt, which is a significant achievement for Atherton Maternity Unit and the hospital.
‘The accreditation confirms our work in supporting mothers, babies and families to achieve the best outcomes for them on their birthing and early parenting journey.’
Maternity Unit staff gathered at the Annie Brown Garden area of the hospital on Thursday, 2 May for an International Day of the Midwife celebration in the lead-up to the globally recognised event on Sunday 5 May.
They were joined by community members, including AMAMA (Atherton Midwives and Mothers Alliance) and the Atherton Friends of the Foundation.
‘Atherton Maternity used this gathering as an opportunity to say thank you to all the community members and groups, including the Atherton Friends of the Foundation, who donated funds for Atherton to be reviewed for accreditation as a Baby Friendly Hospital,’ Mr Stevens said.