Is this a WHO code violation?

[smeep]

I'm at a local hospital to get an abcess taken care of and at the main entrance there's a sign saying no children under 12 in patients rooms (or something to that effect, I didn't really read it) and next to it is a picture of a baby drinking from a bottle. Does that count as a WHO code violation? I'm going to speak to someone about it regardless, but it'd be good to know if it is a violation so I can add that in.

ETA: I just saw another one, so I'm thinking it's something to do with H1N1, which means there are probably more around.

[kriket]

I don't believe so. The WHO code tries to prevent formula companies and their rolls of cash from marketing their formula to mothers.

I get a bit agitated about this sometimes, but I swear I am trying to be nice Some babies need bottles. My EBF baby takes bottles. I wish he didn't have to, but he does. It doesn't make him any less of a baby.

I do agree that they could have left the bottle out and the poster would have been just as effective.

[annettemarie]

America never signed on to the WHO code, so it probably wouldn't make a difference to anyone, unfortunately.

[PatioGardener]

No pictures of bottles or teats can be shown to market formula, bottles or teats. I'm not sure how the code applied to health care facilities. Anywhere that is trying for or is designated 'Baby friendly' by the WHO may have to avoid pictures of bottles, I'm not sure. There are USA BFI hospitals even though the USA hasn't signed the code.

[Minarai]

Originally Posted by PatioGardener

No pictures of bottles or teats can be shown to market formula, bottles or teats. I'm not sure how the code applied to health care facilities. Anywhere that is trying for or is designated 'Baby friendly' by the WHO may have to avoid pictures of bottles, I'm not sure. There are USA BFI hospitals even though the USA hasn't signed the code.

You can read the code for yourself here. I know it does explicitly state that it is illegal for companies to use health care facilities as advertising venues, and unless there were visible logos in the poster, I doubt it's a bona fide violation.

[vbactivist]

not necessarily a who code violation (which as annettemarie pointed out, doesn't really matter in the US), but you could point them in the direction of the baby Friendly Hospital initiative.