Editorial | More must be done to promote breastfeeding in Hong Kong
- While the situation has improved, there needs to be more public nursing rooms and less discrimination against breastfeeding mothers
The World Breastfeeding Week in early August each year is not just a timely occasion to encourage more mothers to embrace the practice. It is also a good opportunity to review whether the relevant policies and facilities in place still have room for further improvement.
If a recent survey is any reference, more than 80 per cent of Hong Kong mothers say they need more breastfeeding facilities in public places and struggle to find hygienic nursing rooms.
About half of the 1,400 respondents said they faced long queues outside nursing rooms with poor sanitary conditions when breastfeeding or lactating in commercial and government premises.
Adding to concerns is that about 16 per cent of government premises and 20 per cent of shopping centres inspected by researchers had no baby care facilities.
Even if they did, the facilities in about 40 per cent of government premises and 50 per cent of commercial sites failed to meet the recommended size.
Credit goes to the Equal Opportunities Commission for flagging an issue that has not been given the attention it deserves. But it is also a reminder that despite growing acceptance of breastfeeding in society over the years, a lot more needs to be done by the watchdog and the government.
