SINN Féin Health spokesperson Councillor Patricia Logue has called on local businesses to fully commit to the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) Breastfeeding Welcome Here programme to ensure breast feeding mothers and babies are supported and not stigmatised.She said: “Recently there have been a number of reported instances in which businesses across the north have refused to accommodate breastfeeding mothers.
“Discrimination towards mothers who breastfeed is unacceptable.
“Breastfeeding mothers and their children should be supported and have equal access to services.
“No mother should ever be discouraged or made feel guilty for breastfeeding her baby in public.
“Breastfeeding is recommended by the World Health Organisation. It is a perfectly natural thing to do with proven health benefits for both mothers and their babies.
“Sinn Féin is calling on local businesses to fully commit to the PHA Breastfeeding Welcome Here programme in order to promote and normalise breastfeeding and challenge the social stigma that is attached to breastfeeding, particularly in relation to breastfeeding in public places.
“Implementation of the breastfeeding legislation that my colleague, former Health Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA, tasked her department to develop would ensure breastfeeding mothers have the right to feed their children with confidence and without interruption in a public place,” added Cllr Logue.
