Student midwives praised by UNICEF for breastfeeding knowledge
Thursday 5 July 2018
UNICEF examiners have been impressed with how students on the University of Salford’s midwifery programme are trained to tell new mothers about the importance of breastfeeding.
Inspectors from the UN organisation spoke to midwifery students and lecturers at the University’s Mary Seacole building and gave them a 100 percent pass mark for meeting the standards of their Baby Friendly Breastfeeding Initiative.
The accreditation – given to the University for the third time running – means that students have a high level of educating new parents about breastfeeding and explaining the health benefits of doing this rather than using formula milk.
Caring and compassion
Inspectors spoke to a random selection of 20 third year midwifery students, who are about to graduate and work in midwifery units across the North West, and said they were impressed with the levels of ‘women centred’ caring and compassion the students demonstrated.
UNICEF also accredit NHS trusts and other organisations under the same scheme, and carry out fresh checks every three years.
This is the third time the University has received accreditation under the scheme – making it the only higher institution in the North West to have been reaccredited as many times.
Invited to go for gold
UNICEF have now invited the University to apply for their newly-introduced gold standard of accreditation – given only to organisations that are able to display exceptionally high levels of understanding.
Midwifery lecturer Anne Leyland said the University works closely with NHS trusts and local authorities across the region to promote the importance of breastfeeding.
We have a lot of poor health outcomes in this area, particularly childhood obesity, diabetes and heart disease, and all the evidence shows that if children are breastfed they have the best start in life and the best chance of avoiding these health problems
Benefits of breastfeeding
She said: “Because there are a lot of deprived areas within Salford and Greater Manchester, it’s very important that prospective parents are as well informed as possible about the benefits of breastfeeding.
“We have a lot of poor health outcomes in this area, particularly childhood obesity, diabetes and heart disease, and all the evidence shows that if children are breastfed they have the best start in life and the best chance of avoiding these health problems.
“We’re very proud of our students and delighted that UNICEF has awarded us this accreditation once again, which means our trainee midwives are incredibly competent in providing the best evidence-based information to new parents about how and why babies should be breastfed.”
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