DUBAI - The Department of Health and Medical Services (Dohms) will soon
set up a hotline to guide mothers on breastfeeding, according to a health
official.
"The ratio of breastfeeding is extremely low among UAE national women in the
country. To encourage women to opt for this natural method rather than bottle
feeding their babies, we will be providing this facility to them soon," said Dr
Fatima Sultan Al Olma, head of the Mother and Babycare Unit at Dohms, explaining
the reason behind the need to set up such clinics in the emirate.
She also explained that the hotline was part of the phased implementation of the
baby-friendly clinics initiative in PHCs around the emirate.
"The objective of the project is to spread health awareness among mothers about
pregnancy, breastfeeding and nutrition suitable for children at different stages
of their lives," she said.
The project has already been implemented in Al Bed'a and Al Mamzar clinics in
the first stages.
"Before this implementation, the staff at these clinics had to undergo a 20-hour
orientation programme so that the clinics could acquire international
accreditation as baby-friendly clinics by the World Health Organisation (WHO),"
said Dr Fatima.
