Four more Primary Healthcare Centres of the Dubai Health Auhority (DHA) have received the Baby-Friendly accreditation from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), bringing the total number of these centre to receive the accolade to six.

The new centres are Nad Al Sheba Care Centre, Twar Health Care Centre, Safa Health Centre and Al Badaa Health Center, according to Dr. Nahed Monsif, Director of the Health Affairs Department at DHA's Primary Healthcare Sector.

He added that Khawaneej Health Centre and Monkhool Health Centre have previously been accredited to the two world organisations.

The Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative was launched by WHO and UNICEF in 1991, as part of a global effort to implement practices that protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

Dr. Fatima Al Olama, Consultant and Head of Childcare at DHA and Director of the Lactation Training Program in the UAE, said, the four centers received the accreditation after meeting a seven-point plan that includes training staff on breastfeeding, training pregnant mothers and post-natal mother on how to breastfeed and the benefits of breastfeeding to name a few.

Al Olama said that another six centres are expected to receive the baby-friendly accreditation by the end of the year.