Our Mission

The Association for Breastfeeding Advocacy (Singapore) is committed to the well-being of both mothers and babies and will do its utmost to promote, protect and support breastfeeding and ensure that babies get the best start in life.


Objectives

The aims of ABAS include
• undertaking and facilitating public education programmes aimed at raising breastfeeding awareness.
• educating healthcare professionals so that they can help mothers in their breastfeeding efforts.
• encouraging research on breastfeeding and related issues.
• making recommendations to relevant agencies for policies that will enhance infant health through acceptable breastfeeding practices.
• liaising, networking and collaborating with similar bodies in other countries.
• monitoring the practices and trends of breastfeeding in Singapore.
• promoting the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative as recommended by WHO and UNICEF.


Policy Statement on Breastfeeding

Mothers should be given every support to exclusively breastfeed their infants (feeding only human milk, without supplementation with other drinks or food) from birth to 6 months of age. ¹

Complementary foods can be introduced at about 6 months of age while continuing to breastfeed till 2 years and beyond.¹

All health professionals should take a strong stand to promote, protect and support breastfeeding as a societal norm, and encourage support by the family and community.²

Parents in Singapore should be adequately educated about the differences between formula milk, breast milk and breastfeeding to make an informed choice about infant feeding.

Breastfeeding has numerous undisputed health benefits to the child and mother, and many benefits to the community.²

The breastfed baby is the gold standard for normal growth and development.³

References:

1.	Guiding Principles for Complementary Feeding of the Breastfed Child. PAHO/WHO, Division of Health Promotion and Protection/Food and Nutrition Program, Washington, DC, USA, 2003.
2.	Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement. Pediatrics 2005; 115:496-506.
3.	WHO Child Growth Standards, available at http://www.who.int/nutrition/media_page/en/, accessed on 30 May 2006.

27 July 2006

This Policy Statement is endorsed by
Health Promotion Board
Association for Breastfeeding Advocacy (Singapore)
Obstetrical & Gynaecological Society of Singapore
National University Hospital
KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital
Thomson Medical Centre

Executive Committee

President	:	Dr Yong Tze Tein
Vice-Presidents	:	Dr Chua Mei Chien Dr Yvonne Ng
Hon. Secretary	:	Cynthia Pang
Hon. Treasurer	:	Liow Peck Hoon
Members	:	Kang Phaik Gaik Liow Peck Hoon Fonnie Lo Seah Peik Chin Julie Tay Wong Lai Ying Wong Siew Kwun

Members

Ordinary Members are institutions and associations who are committed to breastfeeding promotion. Our current Ordinary Members are

Health Promotion Board
SingHealth Polyclinics
National Healthcare Group Polyclinics
KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital
National University Hospital
Singapore General Hospital
Parkway East Hospital
Gleneagles Hospital
Mt. Alvernia Hospital
Mt. Elizabeth Hospital
Raffles Hospital
Thomson Medical Centre
Nanyang Polytechnic School of Health Sciences
National Univesity of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Singapore
O & G Society of Singapore
Perinatal Society of Singapore
Singapore Paediatric Society
Singapore Nurses Association, O & G Chapter
Singapore Nutrition & Dietetics Association
Breastfeeding Mothers’ Support Group (Singapore)

ABAS also has Individual Members. These are individuals who are committed to breastfeeding promotion in some way, and approved as Individual Members by the Executive Committee. Most of ABAS’s current Individual Members are healthcare professionals in private practice