Police officer who breastfed 'dirty malnourished' baby promoted

A police woman who was pictured breastfeeding a “dirty malnourished” baby in a children's hospital has been promoted to sergeant.

Celeste Ayala, who works in the city of Berisso in Argentina, says she heard the distressed, hungry baby boy crying while on shift at the hospital and asked if she could feed him.

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Friend and colleague Marcos Heredia took a photo of the incredible moment and posted it on social media, attracting praise for the officer from around the world.

Minister for Security for Buenos Aires province, Cristian Ritondo, addressed the policewoman during her promotion saying, "We wanted to thank you in person for that gesture of spontaneous love that managed to calm the baby's cry.

"That's the type of police we're proud of, the police we want."

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Ayala received praise from around the world after she fed the baby boy at Sister Maria Ludovica Children's Hospital.

"I noticed that he was hungry, as he was putting his hand into his mouth, so I asked to hug him and breastfeed him," she told local media.

"It was a sad moment, it broke my soul seeing him like this, society should be sensitive to the issues affecting children, it cannot keep happening."

It was later discovered that the baby was one of six children and that their single mother had been struggling to cope.

Heredia said when sharing the photo, "I want to make public this great gesture of love you made today for this little baby who you did not know, but for who you did not hesitate to act like a mother.

"You did not care if he was dirty or smelling, which is what the hospital staff called him," he continued.

"Good job mate."

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