A breastfeeding unit was inaugurated at San Anton Palace by President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca this morning, on the occasion of Mother’s Day.

Ms Coleiro Preca said there were not enough hygienic places where mothers could breastfeed or even change nappies in private. Public conveniences, she said, were not hygienic enough.

The new breastfeeding unit at the Palace was state of the art and professionally designed. It also included a private area where fathers could change nappies.

The President urged the setting up of similar facilities in the community and hoped that through its initiative, the Presidency would have made a statement which councils would follow.

The inauguration was attended by Health Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne and  shadow minister Claudette Buttigieg.

Mr Fearne said that the government would soon be launching a national breastfeeding policy.

Consultation on the policy was now closed and the final document was to be published shortly.

The policy, he said, was based on the knowledge of the importance of breast feeding for mothers and children, staff training and support to breast feeding mothers.