The Tribune

By Felicity Darville

Nurse Carlotta Klass was honoured for being a pioneer in breastfeeding advocacy at a special awards luncheon this weekend as National Breastfeeding week 2018 wrapped up.

Mrs. Klass is now retired from nursing but remains as the chaplain at Princess Margaret Hospital and is active in the Bahamas National Breastfeeding Association (BNBA), ensuring that mothers around The Bahamas choose breastfeeding over bottle feeding and formulas. For decades, she has been campaigning at local clinics in New Providence and the Family Islands, encouraging ante natal nurses to support the breastfeeding cause. Her international training in breastfeeding has taught her that children are less likely to become violent as adults, less likely to become sick and more likely to have good physical and mental growth when breastfed.

Minister of Health Dr. Duane Sands called nurse Klass a "woman worthy of praise" who has trained and mentored countless nurses and health professionals, "passionately giving her time, energy and expertise to this country for over 40 years".

In Prime Minister Hubert Minnis' declaration of National Breastfeeding Week, he pointed out The Bahamas is signatory to the Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding. Countries, he said, have been called upon to increase their efforts in the implementation of the targets of the declaration, emphasising "the extent to which breastfeeding serves to protect, promote and optimise the physical health and psycho-social development of individuals and nations".

Nurse Klass, who recently celebrated her 80th birthday, loves to walk and can be seen walking to many of her destinations around New Providence throughout the day. She also participated in the BNBA's umbrellathon this past Saturday, walking with participants from various clinics who sported umbrellas decorated with breastfeeding mottos. The group walked from Golden Gates clinic to Bahamas Faith Ministries. The event was supervised by BNBA President Trineka Hall, Vice President Linelle Thompson, and veteran nurse in the maternity ward Ampusam Symonette. Flamingo Gardens Clinic won first prize.

The special awards luncheon for nurse Klass held on Sunday featured an address by Pastor David Adams, who reminded attendees of the Biblical principles upon which breastfeeding stands.