Public Health Nursing Service

Primary Care Public Health Nursing Service

Roles of a Public Health Nurse "Breastfeeding: An Outdated Practice or an Updated Trend?" The strategies taken by the FHS in promoting breastfeeding The FHS of the DH has started to promote breastfeeding since 1980. Initially it was in the form of health talks delivered in antenatal clinics of regional hospitals. Then, the first breastfeeding hotline was launched in 1982 and manned by a specially trained registered nurse. It is only in recent years that enhanced efforts have been made to actively promote the practice. As promoting breastfeeding to improve maternal and child health is one of the important Service goals, Lactation Consultants (LC) have been deployed for its implementation. A LC is a worldwide-recognized specialist dealing with health promotion related to lactation, breastfeeding and infant feeding as well as woman and child health. In order to accelerate the work, the Principal Medical Officer, Head of the FHS, urged the establishment of a Breastfeeding Working Group within the FHS in 1999 to lead the development of a more supportive, user-friendly and baby-friendly service. According to the 'Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding' promulgated by the WHO and the UNICEF, a breastfeeding policy was written in 2000. Twelve staff, including eight nurses with LCs qualifications and four medical doctors were developed to be trainers to help staff build competencies in promoting breastfeeding. The trainers are responsible for the training of all medical and nursing staff working in the MCHCs. From 2000 to 2002, the trainers had trained up almost all nursing staff via launching a 40-hour breastfeeding counseling training course recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). As for the medical doctors of the MCHCs, each of them received 15 hours' theory lectures and a half-day clinical attachment. Medical doctors of the Hospital Authority were also invited to attend the lectures. To arouse health care staff's awareness of breastfeeding, 3 seminars were organized for those working in private hospitals and in other service units of the DH. With the intention of delivering the message 'Breastfeeding: the First Step to Life Long Health', a short announcement for public interest (API) film and a sound track were produced and broadcasted through the television and radio respectively. In addition, a breastfeeding information kit for the public was also produced in collaboration with the Hospital Authority and the Baby Friendly Initiative Hong Kong Association. Moreover, a pamphlet was specially designed for and distributed to employers to seek their support for breastfeeding.

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