16 May 2007.

DAVID KIDNEY WELCOMES JEMIMA KHAN TO PARLIAMENT

Stafford’s Labour MP David Kidney is today host to Unicef Ambassador Jemima Khan as she attends the launch of the breastfeeding manifesto in Westminster Hall. The manifesto has been drafted by a group of over 30 organisations and promotes seven simple steps to improve breastfeeding in Britain.

David Kidney, a founding member of the Coalition that has drawn up the manifesto, says he has the task of chairing today’s launch and introducing Jemima Khan to the media:

“Thanks to the support of high-profile endorsers like Jemima Khan, Arsenal footballer Theo Walcott and Super Model Laura Bailey, the launch is attracting a lot of media interest. But our main target is Government, because we want our country to adopt the manifesto and improve breastfeeding rates in Britain.

“Currently, the UK has a low rate of breastfeeding compared to other European countries. Only 2% of UK babies are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life – which is the Government and World Health Organisation recommendation. If we improve breastfeeding initiation levels, we can improve the health of mothers and babies, save the NHS money and help tackle health inequality”

Editor’s Note: the seven points are:

• (1) implement WHO “Global Strategy for Infant and Young child Feeding;
• (2) Implement NICE guidance on postnatal care;
• (3) improve training for health professionals;
• (4) work with employers to make workplace more supportive of breastfeeding employees;
• (5) support breastfeeding in public places;
• (6) include breastfeeding education in schools curriculum; (
• 7) adopt WHO Code on marketing formula milk.