Annette Brooke MP Joins Jemima Khan at the Launch of The Breastfeeding Manifesto

4.39.29pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 18th May 2007

Annette Brooke MP joined Unicef Ambassador Jemima Khan and a coalition of more than 30 organisations in a call to support breastfeeding mothers in the UK yesterday [16 May] as part of National Breastfeeding Awareness Week.

Annette Brooke attended the event in the House of Commons to launch the Breastfeeding Manifesto which pledges to raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and encourage women to choose what is best for them and their children.

Annette is one of three key MPs leading the Breastfeeding Manifesto campaign in Parliament. This cross-party team is calling for the Government to take greater action on breastfeeding. The seven specific objectives of the Manifesto aim to improve the health of UK babies, reduce health inequalities and save the NHS millions of pounds a year.

Annette Brooke, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Children, Young People and Families said:

"Improved breastfeeding rates could make a real difference to the health of babies and their mothers and save the health service millions each year. For example, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) estimates that a 10% increase in breastfeeding in England would save the NHS around £5.6 million in the treatment of gastroenteritis, ear infections and asthma in young children."

Unicef Ambassador Jemima Khan said:

"The WHO recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life (and continue to breastfeed alongside the introduction of solids for up to two years and beyond), yet sadly less than 2% of UK babies are exclusively breastfed for 6 months. The Unicef Baby Friendly Initiative is working with the health service so mothers understand more about breastfeeding and are enabled to breastfeed if they wish to. This is a vitally important health issue and we need commitment and resourcing from Government to ensure all hospital and community staff receive the right level of training."

Annette Brooke MP calls for improved breast feeding rates

The Breastfeeding Coalition has already received cross-party support from more than 180 MPs, and is calling on all 646 MPs to sign up to the Manifesto. England footballer Theo Walcott and model Laura Bailey have already pledged their support. People are encouraged to pledge their support via the website www.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk.