The Bahamas National Breastfeeding Association (BNBA) held an inaugural award ceremony celebrating nurses who have successfully assisted in delivering a significant number of babies in a 'Skin-to-Skin 100-Day Challenge'.  The awards were presented at Princess Margaret Hospital, in the Legacy Foyer, November 24, 2022.

The Carlotta Klass Award, an award named after the founder of the BNBA, was designed to celebrate nurses who have, in the period of one hundred days, delivered the most babies while using “skin-to-skin” interaction.

“Skin-to-skin,” the act by which a newborn is placed directly onto the mother’s bare chest immediately after birth, is an important interaction to implement as both mother and baby benefit, according to Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Michael Darville.

“It’s a win-win situation and Bahamian women throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas who are planning to have children need to understand the importance of this great initiative,” he said.

The goal and the future of the BNBA is to, according to Klass, make the hospitals and eventually the country “baby-friendly.”

The winner of the award, Nurse Evelyn Cartwright, a registered midwife, successfully delivered nineteen babies and the runner-up, Nurse Rhonda Kemp, a registered midwife lactation counselor, successfully delivered sixteen babies.

According to Minister Darville, the continuation of initiatives like the 'Skin-to-Skin 100-Day Challenge' is important to society’s development.

“I support everything that you’re doing. It is the right thing to do, it is evidence-based, it’s scientifically-proven and it gives the child the head start that he or she truly deserves,” he said.

Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Michael Darville brought remarks at Inaugural Ceremony for Carlotta Klass Award. Princess Margaret Hospital, November 24, 2022.

Nurse Evelyn Cartwright is winner of the Carlotta Klass Award for the most babies delivered using “Skin-to-Skin” contact. Pictured left to right: Ampusam Symonette, Vice-President of BNBA; the Hon. Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness; Evelyn Cartwright, winner; and Carlotta Klass, founder of BNBA.

Nurse Rhonda Kemp is first runner-up for the Carlotta Klass Award given to the second-most babies delivered using “Skin-to-Skin” contact. Pictured left to right: Ampusam Symonette, Vice-President of BNBA; the Hon. Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness, Nurse Rhonda Kemp, runner-up; and Carlotta Klass, founder of BNBA.