Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) Perspectives in challenges and future actions Country: Bangladesh Name of the Speaker: Dr. S. K. Roy, Chairperson Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation

List of partners for the assessment process 1. Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF) 2. Bangladesh National Nutrition Counsel (BNNC) 3. Bangladesh Demographic & Health Survey 4. Director General of Health Services 5. Director General of Family Planning 6. Helen Keller International 7. Institute of Public Health and Nutrition 8. Institute of Nutrition & Food Science 9. Institute of Child and Mother Health 10. Integrated Management Childhood Illness 11. Mother and Child Health Training Institute 12. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare 13. Maternal and Child Welfare Centre 14. National Institute of Preventive Social Medicine Conti..

Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation 15. National Nutrition Programme 16. Obstetrics and Gynecological Society of Bangladesh 17. United Nations Children Fund 18. World Health Organization 19. Food & Agriculture Organization 20. World Vision-Bangladesh 21. Save the Children USA 22. Save the Children UK 23. Plan Bangladesh 24. Care Bangladesh 25. CONCERN Bangladesh 26. BRAC 27. Eminence Associate 28. Nutrition Foundation of Bangladesh 29. Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic 30. Disorders 31. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University 32. Home Economics College

Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation What has changed since 2005 assessment CriteriaResults √ Cheek that apply IndicatorYesTo some degreeNo 1. There is a comprehensive national IEC strategy for improving infant and young child feeding. 210 √ 2. IEC programmes (e.g. World Breastfeeding Week) that include infant and young child feeding are being actively implemented at local levels 210 √ 3. Individual counselling and group education services related to infant and young child feeding are available within the health/nutrition care system or through community outreach. 210 √ 4. The content of IEC messages is technically correct, sound, based on national or international guidelines. 210 √ 5. A national IEC campaign or programme4 using electronic and print media and activities has channelled messages on infant and young child feeding to targeted audiences in the last 12 months 210 √ Total Score5/10

Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation What has changed since 2005 assessment Indicator -6 National Policy on IYCF approved, action plan finalized Indicator -7Revitalization of BFHI initiated (IPHN,NNP- UNICEF ) Indicator-8Revision of BMS Code under final process (improved) Indicator-9Initiative of maternity leave extent 4 to 6 months & Crèche (PM - Committed) Indicator -10Health & Nutrition care- indicators improved Indicator -11Formation of Mother support group (NNP done and proposed to DGFP) Indicator -12National advocacy on IYCF through One million campaign, WBW ’09 & IEC materials for promoting on IYCF, Divisional campaign/ TV extensive Indicator -13National PPTCT guideline finalized Indicator -14National IYCF strategy joint statement on IYCF in emergency issued by GOB, UNICEF, WHO, BBF (Aila 2009 – no BMS to babies) Indicator -15Initiative has been taken to incorporate IYCF indicator in the MIS of GOB (Proposal sent)

Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation Challenges faced during the process  Active participation of the WBTi working group  The data collection from different source was difficult  Shyness to admit the negative results regarding the indicators  Reduced commitment after distribution of responsibility  Data on some indicator was not available during the assessment period (BDHS)  In some cases data were not available according to criteria of the indicators

Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation Methods used to tackle the challenges  Regular/frequent follow-up with the group members by BBF office  Included data closest to the indicator’s criteria  BBF went to work in partners offices  All agreed to endorse the process finally  Final output sharing meeting was very successful with DGHS in Chair

Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation Positive experiences during the process  Stakeholders were very proud to be in a international group on BF assessment in the beginning  Most of the data were identified easily during the assessment  The process created an awareness among the members including the Government officials and stakeholder  BBF is preparing work plan on IYCF and advocacy with different stakeholder according to WBTi indicator criteria

Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation Positive experiences during the process  Revealed that more MCH and Health areas should be associated for better result of IYCF outcomes.  Relationship developed among stakeholder’s of IYCF.

Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation Suggestion for improving the process  The circulation to get such data base should be made sufficiently ahead ( six months)  In-country coordination should be ensured after the guidelines are available from IBFAN  Uniform data base should used across the countries  Scoring should be done by quantitative measures  Cross communication among countries and groups such as teleconference/ satellite meetings should be done frequently.