Queen Rania opens Jordan's new baby hospital

A new Baby Friendly Hospital has been opened in Jordan as part of World Breastfeeding Month by her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah.

Queen Rania, who is UNICEF's eminent advocate for children, performed the ceremony on Wednesday (August 29th), bringing the numbers of such hospital in Jordan up to six.

Speaking about the benefits of breastfeeding, Queen Rania said: "There is nothing more natural, nothing more instinctive, and nothing more effective than breast-feeding.

"Protecting her baby is a mother's first instinct and a mother's milk is the most powerful vaccine there is against infectious and non-infectious disease. That is why I am proud of UNICEF's efforts to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding."

According to Dr Hanan Najmi, head of the Maternity and Breastfeeding Unit at the ministry of health, 26.7 per cent of women breastfeed their babies exclusively during their first six months in Jordan.