DHSS Press Release |
Date: July 21, 2015 DHSS-7-2015 |
| Rita Landgraf, Secretary Emily Knearl, DPH Communications Director 302-255-9047, Cell 302-382-6267 Email: Emily.Knearl@state.de.us |
MEDIA ADVISORY
TO PROMOTE BREASTFEEDING, ALL DELAWARE HOSPITALS DISCONTINUE FORMULA GIFT BAGS TO NEW MOTHERS
| WHO: | Rita Landgraf, Secretary, Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) Karyl T. Rattay, MD, MS, Director, Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) Penny Short, Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nursing Officer, Nanticoke Memorial Hospital Nancy Hastings, IBCLC, Lactation Consultant, Beebe Healthcare Kate Libby, a breastfeeding mother Breastfeeding Coalition of Delaware |
|---|---|
| WHAT: | Press conference announcing that all Delaware hospitals have discontinued the decades-old tradition of providing formula gift bags to new mothers. Delaware is the third state to "ban the bags." |
| WHY: | Breastfeeding is an infant's best nutritional source. Breastfeeding protects babies from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia, allergies, and asthma. Babies who are breastfed for six months are less likely to become obese. Additionally, mothers who breastfeed have less risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and lose pregnancy weight faster. |
| WHEN: | Thursday, July 23, 2015, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. |
| WHERE: | Nanticoke Memorial Hospital - Board Room 801 Middleford Rd. Seaford, DE 19973 Directions: www.nanticoke.org/locationsanddirections/ |
| VISUAL: | Mothers holding their breastfed infants. |
QUESTIONS: 302-744-4704.
Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.
Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.
