Her recognition in the New Year Honours List came as a very pleasant surprise for Ann McCrea, the Human Milk Bank manager at Ireland's only Human Milk Bank based in Irvinestown.
The well-known breastfeeding co-ordinator from Fermanagh, who is based fulltime at the Bank, receives the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to healthcare in Northern Ireland.
She feels it is very nice to have recognition for breastfeeding and how important that it is for mothers and babies, while she also regards the honour as recognition for the team effort involved in the Human Milk Bank.
"We are now helping about 700 babies every year," explained Ann, who actually came up with the idea for the special facility which provides donated breast milk to help premature and sick babies and has been operating successfully with the support of donors since its launch in 2000. The help of new mothers to act as donors is always required to help provide the important service.
The work of the Human Milk Bank is "very much" a team effort, stresses Ann, who mentions that it takes in not only the staff who work at the Irvinestown base, but also those who are involved in the transport of the milk, including the Western Trust and Translink, and the laboratory staff who test the milk and donors.
"It involves an awful lot of people not just me," indicated Ann, who serves as breastfeeding co-ordinator for the southern sector of the Western Trust.
She also trains peer support breastfeeding mothers, whom she regards as wonderful. The women, who are breastfeeding their own babies and are usually members of breastfeeding support groups give help and support to other breastfeeding mothers. She also trains staff in breastfeeding management and the Western Trust is one of the Health Trusts who have UNICEF Breastfeeding Baby Friendly status for both the hospital and the community.
Previously Ann served for many years as a Health Visitor in Fermanagh and Tyrone. Married to Gordon and the mother of three daughters, Fiona, Emma and Lorna, she is looking forward to her visit to Buckingham Palace. "I will have to get a nice frock for that one," smiled Ann.
Anyone requiring details about the Human Milk Bank at Irvinestown can contact 028 68628333.
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