Hai Chau District Medical Centre in Da Nang received accreditation from the Ministry of Health and Alive & Thrive on Thursday, affirming that the medical facility meets the relevant criteria as a Center of Excellence for Breastfeeding.

In Viet Nam, Alive & Thrive has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop “Centers of Excellence for Breastfeeding” — a designation conferred upon hospitals to signify that they are breastfeeding-friendly.

Hai Chau District Medical Centre is the second district-level medical facility in Da Nang that has gained the accreditation after Cam Le District Medical Centre, a recognition for its intensive efforts to implement early essential newborn care, and support breastfeeding.

Hai Chau District Medical Centre is among the first two district-level medical facility in Da Nang to be designated as Centers of Excellence for Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding counseling is not the only fundamental component for successful exclusive breastfeeding – early essential newborn care is also a crucial element. According to the World Health Organisation, babies that receive prolonged, uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact are three times more likely to breastfeed during the first 90 minutes after birth.

The Center of Excellence designation programme is carried out in Da Nang in the 2019-2021 period at a cost of VND 460 million.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – Translating by H.L