HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08061996 - C36 To: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Contra
FROM: William Walker, M.D., Health Services Director
Costa
DATE: July 15, 1996 :. County
SUBJECT: Request for Proclamation: Breastfeeding is Baby Friendly
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
IN THE MATTER OF Proclaiming August 1 though 7, 1996, World Breastfeeding Week.
BREASTFEEDING IS BABY FRIENDLY PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS: Breastfeeding and breast milk are recognized as providing unique biological components that support the
health of human infants and are unduplicated by the best of artificial breastmilk substitutes (AKA baby formulas);
breastfed babies need fewer medical interventions because of the improved immunities bestowed by breastfeeding,
decreasing medical costs; and
WHEREAS: Breastfeeding demands fewer financial resources of the family, as formula, costs from $50 to $100 per
month per infant and food for breastmilk production costs a tenth of that; and inappropriate and dangerous substitutes
are made by the family to stretch formula, increasing medical needs and costs; and
WHEREAS: In recognition of benefits of breastfeeding in promoting infant health and strengthening family bonds and
reducing infant morbidity and mortality, the State of California Maternal and Child Health Branch and the Contra Costa
County MCAH Action Plan have adopted the national Healthy People 2000 National Health Promotion and Disease
Prevention Objectives (1990). These state that by the year 2000 the proportion of mothers who breastfeed their
newborns'increase to 75% and that 50% continue breastfeeding until their babies are five to six months old. This
compares to County Statistics for 1993 of from 29 to 65% by race of newborns and 18 to 32 for 6 month olds, with
African Americans at the lower ranges; and
WHEREAS: Our County MCAH seeks ways to continue to reduce African American and other infant mortality, and
increasing breastfeeding rates in high risk populations reduces infant death, including the risk of Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome; and
WHEREAS: Breastfeeding success depends on learned skills and support from men and women whose lives, personal
and professional, touch those of the mother and infant; and
WHEREAS: "Breastfeeding is a natural 'safety net'...exclusive breastfeeding goes a long way toward canceling out the
health difference between being born into poverty and being born into affluence... It is almost as if breastfeeding takes
the infant out of poverty for those first few months in order to give the child a fairer start in life and compensate for the
injustice of the world into which it was born." James P. Grant, Executive Director of UNICEF; and
WHEREAS: UNICEF and the World Health Organization have launched the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, delineating
hospital policies that protect and promote initial breastfeeding of the infant in the hospital and support families to continue
at home; and
WHEREAS: Our County's Merrithew Memorial Hospital has taken a lead position in support of better breastfeeding
outcomes by being accepted as the hospital in this county committed to implementing the UNICEF BABY FRIENDLY
HOSPITAL INITIATIVE in its policies and Contra Costa County Health Services' Women Infant and Children Supplemental
Food Program, Merrithew Healthy Start Perinatal Program, and the other members and staff of the Contra Costa
Breastfeeding Task Force are working to promote and support countywide breastfeeding activities.
Therefore be it resolved by the Board of Supervisors that it hereby declares its support and encouragement of Baby
Friendly breastfeeding promotion and proclaims AUGUST 1 through the 7th WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK in Contra
Costa County. /
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: NO SIGNATURE: W1 46)
I ,/ -✓
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE _OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON August 6 , 1996 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT } AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
Contact Person:
CC: Frances Sturgess/Mary Foran ATTESTED August 6 , 1996
Health Services Administration PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
Public Health Administration SUPE VISORS AND COU TY ADMINISTRATOR
BY DEPUTY