Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Foundation Barbados

Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Childhood Obesity Prevention (COP) Project – September 2018

Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Foundation Barbados
Specific Project Outcome: Advocate for an equitable national policy that promotes and facilitates exclusive breastfeeding in the workplace in Barbados.

The Breastfeeding & Child Nutrition Foundation (BCNF) COP Project Highlights

A communication plan using mass and social media to advocate for, promote, and facilitate breastfeeding, especially in the workplace, was rolled out.

The Breastfeeding & Child Nutrition Foundation Feeding Our Future Campaign

Sample image used in posts from the ‘Feeding Our Future’ Social Media Campaign

Draft Breastfeeding Workplace Policy developed and shared with key stakeholders

Cover of Draft Breastfeeding Workplace Policy

A draft Breastfeeding Policy Brief is being developed in collaboration with the HCC Secretariat. The aim of the Policy Brief is to provide local and regional guidance to other NGOs and governments on the recommendations for best practice in breastfeeding policy.
To demonstrate the recommendations in the draft Policy Brief and contribute to the development and implementation of a national breastfeeding workplace policy a Draft BCNF Breastfeeding Workplace Policy was prepared and disseminated to key stakeholders for feedback.
The BCNF had productive meetings with the labour unions that represent a wide cross-section of the Barbadian workforce. The unions expressed support for the BCNF and the Draft Breastfeeding Workplace policy.
On August 15th the BCNF held a joint stakeholder meeting at The Savannah Hotel to gain feedback on the draft breastfeeding workplace policy. A variety of stakeholders such as business leaders, high-level representatives from employer organisations, government and CSOs, including the Barbados Council for the Disabled (BCD) and the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB) were invited. Independent, retired midwives who, through their support groups and relevant work, engage with members of the public, including those in lower socio-economic groups were also invited. Read more
BCNF materials which shared information on the BCNF, breastfeeding rates and the link to childhood obesity, BCNF letter of commitment and the Draft BCNF Breastfeeding Workplace Policy were given to each attendee at the BCNF stakeholder meeting.
- A key recipient of a copy of the Draft BCNF Breastfeeding Workplace Policy was the Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations who publicly expressed support for the need for a workplace policy at the BCNF Joint Stakeholder Meeting.
  - Labour Ministry Supports Breastfeeding At Work – Barbados GIS
  - The Honourable Colin E. Jordan, Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations – Barbados Today
The BCNF joint Stakeholder Meeting was recognised by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) as a successful celebration of World Breastfeeding Week and received a certificate of participation.

The Breastfeeding & Child Nutrition Foundation branded materials

BCNF branded materials shared at the Joint Stakeholder Meeting

Collaborated with other CSO’s to raise awareness around link between breastfeeding and childhood obesity and initiate the establishment of a Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition.

The profile of the BCNF has been significantly elevated as a direct result of this project

Some members of the National Workplace Wellness Delegation

Related Articles

BCNF Childhood Obesity Joint Stakeholder Meeting

The Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Foundation of Barbados hosted a joint stakeholder meeting on Wed, Aug 15 at the Savannah Beach Hotel in Barbados from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm. This meeting was one of the significant achievements made possible through the project funding from Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) through the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC).

Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition Consultation

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB) and the The Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Foundation of Barbados (BCNF) partnered with the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) on Friday July 20th to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to explore the formation of a national coalition to advocate for policies aimed at reducing childhood overweight and obesity.

Capacity Building Workshop

The CDB grant funded CSO capacity building workshop for both Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Foundation Barbados (BCNF) and the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB) participants took place 11-13 December 2017 in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Foundation Barbados

BCNF Childhood Obesity Joint Stakeholder Meeting

Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition Consultation

Capacity Building Workshop

Cancer Society of the Bahamas

Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados