Government breastfeeding help

Date published: 09 May 2009

Community groups promoting the benefits of breastfeeding to new mums can apply for funding from children’s charity MedEquip4Kids with the launch of its new Committed 2 Breastfeeding programme.

MedEquip4Kids raises money to provide medical equipment and improve facilities for children’s wards and neo-natal units at hospitals across the North West so that children and babies receive the best possible care.

The charity, which has raised in excess of £10 million since 1985, has already provided £32,000 of funding for breast pumps and other associated equipment for use on maternity and neo-natal units over the last five years but is getting more requests for support from community-based Infant Feeding Coordinators and midwives.

This month, during National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (10-16 May), MedEquip4Kids is launching its Committed 2 Breastfeeding programme inviting community-based breastfeeding support groups, clinics, midwives and baby cafes to apply for support from the charity.

MedEquip4Kids Director, Mike Hughson, said: “MedEquip4Kids is launching Committed 2 Breastfeeding because there are clear benefits to the health of babies and children from being breastfed both in the short and long term.

“It only costs in the region of £500 to help a support group be established and this would seem to be a small price to pay compared to the potential health benefit to children if more mothers are encouraged to breastfeed.”

For more information on Committed 2 Breastfeeding, visit www.medequip4kids.org.uk or call 0161 798 1600