Plenary Session - Challenges and Opportunities in the Global Lactation Consultant Profession

Sunday, August 13, 2023

3:45 PM – 5:00 PM PDT

CE: 1.25 CERP

L-CERP
Learning Level: Beginner, Intermediate

IBCLCs and skilled lactation care providers around the world face opportunities and challenges when it comes to gaining the training and skills they need to provide care, finding work opportunities, getting paid or reimbursed for their services, meeting the needs of underserved communities, working within the local and national health care system, being recognized by other health care providers and the government, and more. These opportunities and challenges may vary by country or region of the world, and there can be similarities and differences across local areas or practice settings, among countries, and among regions. Hear from an international panel of skilled lactation care providers as they share perspectives from their regions (United States, Uganda, Romania, Malaysia) and discuss possible strategies to address challenges and move the profession forward.

Learning Objectives:

Identify common challenges faced by lactation consultants around the world
Identify possible solutions to those challenges that will allow for an increase in providing skilled lactation care globally
Discuss the need for global advocacy for the lactation consulting profession

Lisa Mandell, MBA, IBCLC

Global Advocacy Adviser
ILCA, Pennsylvania, United States

Disclosure(s): No relationship to disclose, including relevant financial relationships

Presentation Deck
Nadrah Arfizah Arfin, MBBS, MPH, Dr

President
Malaysian Breastfeeding Peer Counsellor Association (MBfPCA), Perak, Malaysia

Disclosure(s): No relationship to disclose, including relevant financial relationships
Paulina Erices, MS, IBCLC

Co-Founder
Cuenta Conmigo; Chair- Elect U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, Colorado, United States

Disclosure(s): No relationship to disclose, including relevant financial relationships
Daiva Sniukaite, IBCLC, MA (she/her/hers)

ELACTA Vice President, Founder and President Lithuanian Lactation and Breastfeeding Consultant Association, founder Mother to Mother support organization Pradziu Pradzia, BFHI assessor
European Lactation Consultants Alliance (ELACTA), Lithuania

Disclosure(s): No relationship to disclose, including relevant financial relationships
Egondu Onuoha, MS,RDN,CDN, IBCLC, RLC,CDCES, GPC, FAND, FILCA

Vice President
The Brooklyn Hospital Center, New York, United States

Disclosure(s): No relationship to disclose, including relevant financial relationships