NH Jacksonville Receives World Health Organization, UNICEF 'Baby Friendly' Designation

By Tami Begasse, Naval Hospital Jacksonville Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Hospital (NH) Jacksonville was designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as one of only 119 baby friendly U.S. medical facilities during a press conference at the hospital Oct. 13 aboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville.

As an officially designated Baby Friendly facility by Baby Friendly USA, a global initiative sponsored by WHO/UNICEF, -NH Jacksonville successfully implemented the recommended ten steps of a comprehensive breastfeeding program according to Baby-Friendly USA Executive Director Trish MacEnroe.

"The administration and staff of Naval Hospital Jacksonville are to be commended for their outstanding work in adopting policies and practices to support better breastfeeding," she said. "Baby-Friendly USA extends our heartiest congratulations as we confer to them the prestigious WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly designation. Hospitals play a vital role in helping mothers and babies successfully establish breastfeeding. Breast milk lays the best possible foundation for a lifetime of good health. It contains substances that cannot be reproduced artificially. As a result, infants who are not breastfed are more likely to incur a multitude of health problems that take a human toll and cost our health care system billions of dollars annually."

The Baby-Friendly designation is given after a rigorous on-site survey is completed. The award is maintained by continuing to practice these 10 steps as demonstrated by quality processes. The comprehensive program includes initiating breastfeeding in the first hour of life, keeping mothers and babies in the same room, and support groups for women who breastfeed.

On average, 80 percent of mothers who delivered at NH Jacksonville were exclusively breastfeeding their babies when they left the hospital, something NH Jacksonville Commanding Officer Capt. Lynn Welling said is vital to ensuring the health of its patients-from birth to retirement.

"We want to do all we can to improve the health of our youngest heroes and encourage the use of mother's milk for the more than 1,000 babies born in our hospital each year," he said. "This prestigious international recognition, illustrates our commitment to supporting a mother's decision to breast feed and ultimately helping reduce the risks of common childhood infections, asthma and diabetes."

While more than 20,000 facilities have received the Baby Friendly designation worldwide, only 119 facilities (including NH Jacksonville) have been certified in the United States. Along with being the first hospital in Northeast Florida, NH Jacksonville is the third military facility and the fourth hospital in Florida, which is something Florida Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll recognized.

"Thank you for answering U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin's 'call-to-action' to health care professionals, communities, families and employers," she said. "Your commitment to this designation will ensure a healthier population of women and children, and will better prepare even the youngest Floridians with the best start possible."

Benjamin included UNICEF/WHO's Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in her national prevention strategy rolled out earlier this year at the Health and Human Services Consumer Health IT Summit.

The importance of following Baby Friendly steps is echoed by Heather Huffman, chair of the Northeast Florida Breastfeeding Collaborative.

"As the First Coast's first hospital to receive this prestigious international recognition, Naval Hospital Jacksonville has again demonstrated its commitment to providing our nation's heroes and their family members with the best possible care," Benjamin said. "Whether a health care professional, member of the community, employer or family member, I would encourage and challenge us as a community to strive to improve breastfeeding rates and increase our support for breastfeeding. I congratulate Naval Hospital Jacksonville on its efforts to support new mothers and provide babies with the best possible start in life."

According the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of an infant's life can offer many health benefits for babies and mothers, including a reduction in infectious diseases and mortality during infancy, improved bonding and increased postpartum weight loss. Breastfeeding also helps reduce the risks of common childhood infections, asthma, diabetes and other conditions that children who get mother's milk are less likely to develop. It saves time and money for families in both baby formula and medical costs. Low rates of breastfeeding cost an estimated $2.2 billion dollars in medical costs.

NH Jacksonville's priority since its founding in 1941 is to heal the nation's heroes and their families. The command is comprised of the hospital, located aboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville, and five branch health clinics in Florida (Jacksonville, Key West and Mayport) and Georgia (Albany and Kings Bay). Of its patient population-215,000 active and retired Sailors, soldiers, Marines, airmen, National Guard members and their families-more than 57,000 are enrolled with a primary care manager at one of its facilities. Each and every day, a dedicated team of 2,500 military and civilian personnel sees 1,500 outpatients, admits 12 inpatients, cares for 125 people in the ER, performs 19 same-day surgeries, fills 3,600 prescriptions, conducts 3,000 lab tests and delivers two to three babies. Additionally, up to 15 percent of its active duty staff is deployed around the globe providing combat, humanitarian and disaster care.