September 28, 2002

The Childbirth and Breastfeeding Foundation of Thailand

The Childbirth and Breastfeeding Foundation of Thailand (CBFT) is the brainchild of Mel and Tanit Habanananda (see my previous Diary entry). Having spent 20 years working, largely on their own, to get some better birth practices into Thailand they wanted to find away to keep the work going when they decide to retire, probably to their wonderful property outside Chiang Mai in the north. They also wanted to involve the Thais themselves in taking the work forwards, because this is really about cultural change and setting in place programs and visions that will benefit the Thai people at large. A very successful Conference had been held in Chiang Mai in 1997 (“Birth without Borders”) and it was clear from the enthusiasm of the participants from allover the South-East Asian region that change was much needed and leadership would be required.

After much soul searching (and some prodding from me, I have to admit) they decided to form a non-profit Foundation with a Board representing stakeholders in the Thai maternity system. Establishing a Foundation is no easy task and it took some years. Everyone involved had to be scrutinised by the Government and the police to check their backgrounds, worthiness and suitability and an elaborate process for registration exists, ensuring that very few proposed Foundations manage to jump all the hurdles. It took some years, but finally the deed was done and the Foundation began work in 1998.

This is the Mission statement of the Foundation:

“The CBFT is a non-profit networking and resource centre dedicated to ensuring the best possible start in life for our babies. We believe that this can best be achieved through:

Encouraging the appropriate use of technology and medication for all births

Promoting breastfeeding for every mother and baby in the community

Providing information and training to health professionals involved in maternity care

Supporting parents through pregnancy, birth and postnatal period."

The Foundation has begun its first projects and to establish its credentials. Workshops have been held in a number of hospitals and a tour of major centres with Marsden Wagner, Gabrielle Palmer (author of The Politics of Breastfeeding) and myself as speakers took place in 1999. Links have been forged with UNICEF and the Department of Health and various publications are in the pipeline. As an Advisor to CBFT, I have given then permission to translate Preparing for Birth as a basic manual for parents and a means of raising funds through sales, and this is about to be printed.

Getting things done in Thailand takes time. The Thais are lovely, gentle, warm people with a very proud background and a strong sense of self as a nation. Their ways of doing things are unique, and at times very frustrating. They are known for their smiles, but these can hide a range of emotions making it impossible to “read” their reactions. Their concept of time and deadlines is very relaxed and causes angst for those used to westernised time-driven ways of working and getting things done.

I know that the Foundation is very much needed here and holds the promise of improved birth and parenting for the Thai people. I also see the effect that lack of action and slow progress is having on my dear friends and I hope they can hang in there to see their dream emerge and develop.

More about Thailand tomorrow.

Posted by andrea at September 28, 2002 12:13 PM

Comments

I'd like to help spread the word about the positive benefits of breastfeeding. I live in Chiang Mai and breastfeed my (almost) 15 month old son and work an 8 hour day. I'd like to be about to refer other mothers to your foundation and reading materials in Thai so they can learn more about breastfeeding. Let me know (via email) how I can help.

Thank you!

Posted by: Cheryl Wheeler on March 12, 2003 04:58 PM

Comments

Rainbow is successfully breastfeeding her four month old daughter in Chiangmai. Her Thai sisterinlaw just had a baby three days ago, but isn't getting support for breastfeeding from medical staff or family except for us. She is having difficulties because the hospital took the baby to the nursery where they have kept her almost all of the time. If you can contact us as soon as possible, we would greatly appreciate that. We need information in Thai that she can read and more support to encourage her. Thanks to anyone who can help.

Posted by: rainbow or georgene on June 15, 2003 02:46 PM

Comments

You may find it interesting to visit the sites about poker card, casino no deposit, online casino casions, gambling cash, blackjack sites, roulette casions, gamble tip, internet casino web, slot machine odds, online casino bonus deposit, online gamble game, casino gambling strategies, casino game strategies, las vegas table, video poker casinos, roulette online card, slot rule, blackjack online deposit, blackjack betting 3d, poker 888, gambling 8888, blackjack tip, poker on net, casino casions, casino gaming, gambling no deposit. .

Posted by: blackjack on January 19, 2004 08:13 AM

Comments

You may find it interesting to check the pages in the field of phentermine effect, zyban tablet, viagra cream, propecia for woman, online pharmacy prescriptions, tramadol mens, ultram 400mg, wellbutrin resistance, paxil overnight, meridia comparing, zyrtec online, xenical cheap, vioxx 12 5mg, vaniqa dosage, retin a canada pharmacy, prozac on line, generic viagra 10 pills, celexa woman, buy phentermine addiction, xenical capsules, ambien substitute, dilenyoung about, hopforyou pills, kip980 perscription medication, mng765 what is, pol_uri facts, piter_gordon mail order, miss20092000 2 month supply, robert_zed2003 fasten, fp292003 men, diagodream supplements, jacglen2003 can i, lisa_plamer products, gill_bern review, gtrgtr45 100mg, poklop2000 men`s, nolzer12 men`s, rtopopi mail order pharmacy, oklokol for woman, racertroy2003 information on, viagra information about, phentermine alternative. .

Posted by: fp292003 on January 21, 2004 02:02 PM