West Tyrone Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

'Breast feeding welcome here' scheme operating in Omagh

Published: 10 February, 2010


Sinn Fein Omagh District councillor Anne Marie Fitzgerald has welcomed the news that 31 local businesses are currently participating in the 'Breast Feeding Welcome Here' scheme in Omagh.

The scheme is an initiative which aims to make it easier for mums to recognise places where they can breast feed their baby when they are out and about.

Such business participating in the scheme displays a 'Breastfeeding welcome here' sticker in the windows of their business.

Businesses displaying the window sticker and listed below have agreed that:

Breastfeeding is acceptable in all areas of the business premises that are open to the general public;

- A mother who is breastfeeding in an area of the business premises open to the general public will not be asked to move to another area or to stop breastfeeding;

- All staff members will be aware of the membership of the scheme and will be supportive to the needs of breastfeeding mums;

- Non-smoking areas are provided (the non-smoking area will be a minimum of one half of the seating area);

- They will display the scheme window sticker and membership certificate.

Speaking on the initiative Councillor Fitzgerald said:

"Many cafes, restaurants, shops and other businesses throughout the north, which are happy to have breastfeeding families in their premises, have joined already the scheme. In Omagh alone 31 businesses have already signed up to the initiative.

"We as a Council we are committed to supporting healthy lifestyle, as outlined in the 'Healthy Towns initiative' and therefore we are equally committed to supporting mothers who wish to breastfeed in our facilities. Indeed it widely recognised that breastfeeding has having many health benefits for both mother and baby. I would like to commend the 31 businesses that have signed up to the initiative and would urge any other business who wishes to sign up to contact the environmental health department in the council for more information on the scheme.