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Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support 2006
Press Release 31 March 2007
| The fourth Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support was presented to Annette Ogilvie-Forbes, a Health Visitor from Leicester, by Dana Macleod, the founder of the Tap Water Awards at Baby Milk Action’s Annual General Meeting in Cambridge on 31st March. |  |
Annette had been nominated by Sally Etheridge and La Leche League of Leicester, for her pivotal role in raising awareness of breastfeeding in the Leicester region and changing attitudes, especially among health professionals. The importance of informing parents of the risks of artificial baby milks and protecting them from marketing is integral to all Annette does professionally, whether with individual clients or with peers.
For Annette, increasing breastfeeding rates cannot be divorced from the fundamental need to challenge attitudes towards artificial feeding. She sticks to her principles on this in whatever she does! Any baby milk rep who contacts any health worker within the Primary Care Trust is directed to her, and is told firmly that they may make an appointment to see her, but will not be allowed to speak to anyone else, nor will they be allowed to leave any literature or samples. They usually don’t bother to keep the appointment!
Background: The Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support is an award given by the Baby Feeding Law Group to Health Visitors - nominated by parents - who have made a significant contribution to the proection of breastfeeding and who facilitate universal access to support that is free from commercial influence. Previous winners were: Gill Rapley (2003) Deana Vearncombe (2004) Sharon Breward (2005).
The Award was set up in memory of Julie Crawford, a health visitor and a former Director of Baby Milk Action who died from a rare disease, at the age of 42 in November 2001. Julie cared passionately about breastfeeding and was never frightened to stand up and fight for the rights of mothers to independent and sensitive care. She was especially concerned about the extent of industry funding of education for health professionals and was also keen to push for legal action in defence of mother’s rights to breastfeed.
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Notes
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The Tap Water Awards are the corporate-free alternative to the Nestlé-sponsored Perrier Comedy Awards until 2006 held annually at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
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Baby Feeding Law Group member organisations: Association of Breastfeeding Mothers - Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services - Association of Radical Midwives - Baby Milk Action - Best Beginnings - Breastfeeding Network - Food Commission - Community Practitioners and Health Visitors’ Association - Lactation Consultants of Great Britain - La Leche League (GB) - Little Angels - Maternity Alliance - Midwives Information and Resource Service - National Childbirth Trust - Royal College of Midwives - Royal College of Nursing - Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health - UK Association for Milk Banking - Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative - Women’s Environmental Network.