Kona Community Hospital on Tuesday celebrated receiving international recognition as a designated Baby-Friendly Birth Facility. The Kealakekua-based facility is now the third Hawaii hospital to receive such designation.
This recognition was awarded by Baby-Friendly USA Inc; the U.S. authority for the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund.
The initiative’s goal is to implement practices that protect, promote and support breastfeeding and immediate skin-to-skin bonding of newborn infants.
“We’re thrilled to receive this designation,” said Sally Robertson, Women’s Services nurse manager. “These baby-friendly best practices at KCH can impact the health of the entire community by providing new mothers with the proper education and tools to support successful breastfeeding and improve health outcomes for newborns.”