The World Breastfeeding Trend Initiative (WBTi) Dr Arun Gupta MD FIAP Regional Coordinator IBFAN Asia 2nd Regional Conference on Human Lactation Nov 2009 Al Ain UAE.

Outline About WBTi History Launch in South Asia 2005… Global Launch in 2008… What is the State of Worlds Breastfeeding ( 29 Country Reports) Trends…. Web Portal and its use

What is World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative ( WBTi  Participatory, action oriented simple research Tracking, Assessing and Monitoring (TAM) the implementation of Global Strategy for IYCF Ensures uniformity, Objective is to reach about 100 countries by Integral part of the project the "Global Breastfeeding Initiative for Child Survival" (GBiCS) – Norad, IBFAN, WABA,BPNI

WBTi A:Action oriented B:Brings people together C:Consensus and commitment building building D:Demonstrates achievements and gaps and gaps E:Efficacy improving programme

History 1993: WABA’s GLOPAR 2003/04: WHO’s tool “Infant and Young Child Feeding : A tool for assessing national practices,policies, and programs”

The Need The United Nations Millennium Summit for MDGs – MDG 4 (2000) The Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding (2002) Each country urged to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate a plan of action on IYCF Innocenti Declaration on IYCF (2005)

Objectives of WBTi To stimulate /provoke national actions on infant feeding To provide critical information to governments, needed to bridge gaps in infant and young child feeding policy and practice To provide evidence to IBFAN groups to advocate for greater effort and investment to promote early and exclusive breastfeeding in the respective countries and regions To contribute to attaining MDG-4 and 5 and reducing under-five child mortality and improve women’s health

How WBTi works?

Indicators Part-I 1. Early Initiation Rates 2. Exclusive breastfeeding Rates <6months 3 Median duration of Breastfeeding 4 Bottle Feeding Rates 5 Timely Complementary feeding Rates

Indicators Part-II 6- National Policy Program and Coordination 7- BFHI 8-Implementation of the Code 9-Maternity Protection 10-Health and Nutrition Care System

Indicators Part-II 11-Community Outreach and Mother Support 12-Information Support 13-Infant feeding and HIV 14-Infant feeding during Emergencies 15-Monitoring and Evaluation

Country Status in South Asia 2006 Bhutan 30/150 8 Afghanistan 30/150 7 India 68/150 6 Nepal 71.5/150 5 Pakistan 75.5/150 4 Maldives 88.5/150 3 Bangladesh 91.5/150 2 Sri Lanka 116/150 1

Impact of WBTi in South Asia Increased capacity of breastfeeding groups Government participation Country Data Generated Reports Enhanced national action on skills training, Code Work, Policy work

 National Consultation to finalise the ‘Regulations’  Breastfeeding Coordinating Committee was revised.  Identified a focal point. Maldives

WBTi International Orientation Training - Geneva

WBTi training in IBFAN Latin America, Costa Rica

WBTi Training Workshop in South Asia Delhi

WBTi Training Workshop Southeast and East Asia (Bangkok)

WBTi Training Workshop Africa

WBTi India Assessment 2008

World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) takes off in 51 countries

WBTi Training in Ouagadougou October 2009

Source : WBTi Assessment Year 2008, Website :

Impact in 29 Countries 237 stakeholders/partners in 29 countries, they included: Government agencies, Government agencies, UN agencies UN agencies IBFAN /Breastfeeding groups, IBFAN /Breastfeeding groups, Civil society groups, Civil society groups, Professional organizations, Professional organizations, Media Media Academic Institutions Academic Institutions Public health groups, Public health groups, Human Rights Groups Human Rights Groups

Submitting Petition to the President of WHA

What leaders say? “…WBTi opens opportunities and new alliances…..Then what is really important is to have various new allies to follow up. This is really one of the main results. This is when the WBTi becomes a great tool to build on…” “It induces competitiveness”

“…Methodology used in WBTi has also inspired to develop similar monitoring for other health indicators related with infant and young child health and nutrition and safe motherhood…”

The First Lady of Timor Leste at 7 th Ministerial Consultation on Children Cambodia March 2005 Thank you