31 July 2000

CHOICES
2288 Cottonwood Circle
Pickering, Ontario L1X 2R1

Dear CHOICES:

Nomination for Women's Voice Award for 2000

It is with much pleasure that I nominate MS. LYDIA LING for your Womens'  Voice Award, to be announced in October at your Conference on “Enhancing the Birth Experience”.

In support of this nomination, please find attached a copy of her CV, along with a 2-page summary about her work in Hong Kong, where she was born and raised, and continuing in Canada after migrating to Toronto in 1994.

If I were to give examples of Ms. Ling's dedication and commitment to childbearing women – as of course I am happily obliged to do as her nominator! – I would first cite her outstanding achievement in helping to raise the breastfeeding rate in Hong Kong from under 15% in 1978 to 41% in 1995. I would also underline the fact that, after becoming the first IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) in Hong Kong in 1993, she worked tirelessly to promote a breastfeeding culture in Hong Kong by arranging visits of experts, organizing and conducting various training courses, and returning to Hong Kong annually to assist in this effort. In Toronto, she sustains her level of commitment to childbearing women, especially for the Chinese community. 

I first met Ms. Ling in 1992 when she came to Vancouver to attend a global Child Health Congress. I was delighted to see her again in Washington, D.C., where ILCA held its Annual Conference which concluded just yesterday (July 30), and at which I was the plenary speaker at their closing session. In between, I have kept up with Ms. Ling's career through a mutual friend, Dr. Natividad Clavano of the Philippines, who was my first mentor in breastfeeding when I was posted in Manila as the UNICEF Representative in the 1970s; and who was also present at the ILCA Conference. I know that Dr. Clavano has promised to write a supporting nomination for Ms. Ling as well when she returns to the Philippines later this month. I am happy to submit mine now, with the hope that you will give Ms. Ling's candidacy your careful and favourable consideration.

Yours truly,

Wah Wong, Ph.D.
BFHI Consultant, UNICEF Canada
Honorary Member, Breastfeeding Committee for Canada