Association of Breastfeeding Counsellors

Speaker: Christine Borg, Chair ABC

Date: 2nd August, 2004

Venue: Parentcraft Room, KGH, St.Luke’s Hospital, Malta

Duration: 5 min

Introduction

As representatives of breastfeeding mothers and babies we take our role seriously and it is with a sense of achievement that I am happy today to have worked with two Government departments in the collaboration of this Press Conference.

I shall speak about:

  1. the collaborative experience,
  2. the role of ABC and,
  3. how we can address two important issues.

 

Collaboration in this area

The three entities all have extensive knowledge about breastfeeding and we all have ideas that can be actualised with some effort. Problems have arisen when there seemed to be attempts by any one party to want to convey its superior status over the others. In such a scenario the atmosphere became defensive at the cost of transparency and the whole project was threatened a number of times. We are all jealous of our turf but the turf is not ours to possess.  The three of us have much to learn about each others’ internal culture and this Week’s preparations have exposed us all to this reality. The collaboration was not all plain sailing but because there was goodwill we have found ways to make a start and I hope that this will continue.

Collaboration should serve to address the need for coherence in the way the message is delivered. We are all aware of a history of conflicting advice - therefore there is need to establish a common language in order to be consistent in the way we share our knowledge. We could also work on having a common plan in which the role of each party will complement those of the other two thereby reducing overlap so that our resources are utilised optimally.

Now I come to say something about the ABC

The ABC is a Non Profit Organisation whose role is:

  • to educate the public
  • to advocate on behalf of civil society
  • to support and empower mothers in their choice to breastfeed and
  • to protect breastfeeding against negative commercial interests.

 

The goal of the ABC is not only that we see an increase in the statistics of initiation, which is valid in itself but is a small indicator of change, but also to see that mothers are empowered to the point of breastfeeding for as long as they really want to. The real test is to be able to measure attitudes that imply that the public thinks of bottle feeding only as a last resort. This is the point by which we may infer that we are truly moving towards a breastfeeding culture.   

The ABC is doing its part towards the realisation of this goal. This year we have evaluated the quality and quantity of our services and concluded that our biggest problem is that organisation of the standard that is needed cannot be expected from people who are not paid for their work. Such people will just spend their energy somewhere else where their time and effort is recognised, valued and remunerated.  

As a Non Profit Organisation the ABC needs to be supported by the Government and all other stakeholders in our effort to have the financial resources to be able to run effectively. If our trained personnel cannot be available because they have to be occupied in remunerated work elsewhere, the community will be bereft of the necessary support and the 90% target mentioned in the Breastfeeding Policy 2000 will take forever to reach. 

We have embarked on several objectives to improve the quantity and quality of our services to be in a better position to address the needs of breastfeeding mothers and babies in Malta. And if anybody wants to know more about us kindly visit our newly developed website at www.breastfeedingmalta.org  

The theme for this Breastfeeding Week is Excusive Breastfeeding. To ensure that the structural framework does not hinder this we must address two important issues. 

1.  We must have a law that backs up the International Code for the Marketing of Breastfeeding Substitutes to hinder commercial interest as stated in the Breastfeeding Policy for Malta 2000. To date distributors of artificial milk are free to solicit business from health professionals. The attraction may be some personal or professional gain. I appeal to all that we attract funding from rightful sources rather than succumb to dealing with sponsors who ironically have a lot to gain by associating with us but where the association would be ultimately defeating the purpose of promotion by hurting the interest of the main stakeholders – mothers and babies.

2.  In discussions of work and family responsibilities it is pertinent to include breastfeeding as an important factor in the quality of life of both mother and child. In order to see this materialise other entities must take it upon themselves to increase their knowledge of breastfeeding and apply it at their decision making level.

Mothers should not have to choose between breastfeeding and working. They should be enabled to do both. All that is needed is a small room with a table and chair, a fridge and running water. Having a child-care facility nearby will be even better as mothers can breastfeed their child during breaks. Therefore we urge:

  • Government to ratify ILO Convention 183 and

  • all parties involved in the discussion of women and work to also push for this ratification.

I conclude by introducing Sarah Cutajar and her baby Keziah who are the ABC Breastfeeding Mother and Child 2004 and I invite Sarah to say a few words.