Eight hospitals across Guyana have been officially certified as Baby‑Friendly under the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF’s Baby‑Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), marking a major milestone in maternal and child health. The certification ensures that mothers receive consistent, evidence‑based support to initiate and sustain breastfeeding from birth.
The achievement was celebrated in Georgetown, where PAHO’s Dr. Rhonda Sealey‑Thomas praised the dedication of healthcare workers and UNICEF’s Michael Gillis emphasized breastfeeding as both a child’s right to health and a mother’s right to informed care. Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton of the Ministry of Health highlighted breastfeeding’s broader impact on food security, health equity, and cultural continuity, calling it “everybody’s business.”
The BFHI promotes ten evidence‑based steps to support breastfeeding, with benefits including stronger immunity, reduced infant mortality, and economic relief for families. With support from PAHO, UNICEF, Global Affairs Canada, and Guyana’s Ministry of Health, dozens of healthcare workers were trained and mentored to meet the initiative’s rigorous standards.
Seven government hospitals and one private hospital were certified, including facilities in Regions 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 10. The ceremony reflected not only policy success but also the commitment of healthcare workers, mothers, and communities united in ensuring newborns receive the best possible start in life.
Guyana now aims to make every hospital in the country Baby‑Friendly. PAHO reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining progress, pledging continued technical support, training, and advocacy to ensure that every mother and newborn has the chance to thrive.
