WHO and UNICEF Declare the Comprehensive Specialized Clinics a Baby Friendly Center
H.E. Chief Executive Officer of Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, President of King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Dr. Bandar Al Knawy has launched today, today, the 15th of December 2015 the Women Health And Breastfeeding Practice Conference to be held for the 1st time Kingdom wide and will last 3 days. On this occasion, Dr. Bandar Al Knawy delivered a speech on which he pointed out that the Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs has adopted the Baby Friendly Initiative as one of the MNGH-HA ongoing support projects in all MNGH-HA’s medical cities, by instituting the "ten steps" of baby-friendly practice developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration.
In addition, the Comprehensive Specialized Clinics in the Primary Health Care center in the Western Region has been accredited with the Baby Friendly accreditation after complying to the "Ten Steps" and undergoing the required assessment by the World Health Organization and UNICEF under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia, along with accrediting 4 primary health care centers and King Abdulaziz Hospital – Al-Ahsa.
After that, Dr. Razaz Mohammed Wali, Family Medicine and Breasfeeding Consultant, Assistant Professor at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences – Jeddah and head of the scientific committee pointed out that women's health care is a comprehensive development aspect and a healthcare priority where women represents more than half of the society, therefore, the idea of a conference to shed light on various health problems and share experts views was vitally important in order to promote women’s health and breastfeeding.
Executive Co-Director of Primary Health Care Family Medicine Dr. Fahd Taib gave a speech in which he said that the MNG-HA supports the scientific and educational development, especially with regard to allocating highly qualified doctors who obtained a fellowship in family or community medicine to all primary healthcare centers in the Western Region. He also added that the Family Medicine Training Program received the Best Training Program Award in MNG-HA for the academic year 2014-2015.
Towards the end of the opening ceremony, Dr. Bandar Al Knawy honored members of the Scientific and the organizing Committee.