Limerick has become Ireland’s ‘breastfeeding-friendly’ capital thanks to a hugely successful and ground-breaking campaign, the first of its kind in the country.
In just three months following Limerick City and County Council’s launch of the project with a number of partners including the HSE and Healthy Ireland, We’re Breastfeeding Friendly has encouraged a total of 73 Limerick establishments, including hotels, restaurants, shops, museums, sports clubs, community organisations and churches, to sign up for the campaign.
The drive is aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of breastfeeding mothers, babies and their families by encouraging businesses, organisations and communities to become ‘Breastfeeding Friendly’.
Such has been the success of the campaign that other local authorities around the country will be rolling out We’re Breastfeeding Friendly in their counties/cities.
The initiative has also been shortlisted for an All Ireland Community and Council awards, the winners will be announced next month.
Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr James Collins said he is delighted and proud the initiative has taken off and says that there is still plenty of opportunity for more organisations to join.
He said: "Our ‘We’re Breastfeeding Friendly’ campaign has been a huge success. This reflects very positively on Limerick that is proactively supporting mothers and their babies. One of the hallmarks of Limerick’s success has been its inclusiveness - how welcoming it is - and this is another great example. I want to thank the businesses and organisations who have already signed up and I’m hopeful and positive many more will do the same. Signing up is simple, cost-free and can make a great difference.”
“This campaign is really about supporting our mothers, children and families. It was never intended as a breastfeeding promotion campaign but rather a campaign focusing on making sure the environment around babies and mothers makes breastfeeding as normal and comfortable as it should be.”
Mo Foley Walsh, co-ordinator of Healthy Limerick, said the initiative has proven so successful it is now being rolled out to other local authorities.
“It is wonderful how Limerick has taken this campaign into its heart. I’m happy and proud of its success which is achieving its goal of nurturing a culture of connectedness, between agencies, communities and families across the city and county. It is a testament to the community of Limerick that this exciting initiative has been successful and that it will now be rolled out in other counties thanks to Healthy Ireland.”
Follow the campaign online with the hashtags #breastfeedingfriendlylimerick and #LKWorkingTogether.
For information packs for We're Breastfeeding Friendly, email healthy.limerick@limerick.ie. To see who has signed up and to learn more about We're Breastfeeding Friendly, go to Limerick.ie and type breastfeeding in the search box.