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
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
Criteria
Indicator
Results
√ Cheek that apply
Yes
To some degree
No
1. There is a comprehensive national IEC strategy for
improving infant and young child feeding.
2
1
0
2. IEC programmes (e.g. World Breastfeeding Week) that
include infant and young child feeding are being actively
implemented at local levels
2
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.
2
4. The content of IEC messages is technically correct,
sound, based on national or international guidelines.
2
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
2
Total Score
√
1
0
√
1
0
√
1
0
1
0
√
√
5/10
Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation
What has changed since 2005 assessment
Indicator -6
National Policy on IYCF approved, action plan finalized
Indicator -7
Revitalization of BFHI initiated (IPHN,NNP- UNICEF )
Indicator-8
Revision of BMS Code under final process (improved)
Indicator-9
Initiative of maternity leave extent 4 to 6 months & Crèche (PM Committed)
Indicator -10
Health & Nutrition care- indicators improved
Indicator -11
Formation of Mother support group (NNP done and proposed to
DGFP)
Indicator -12
National advocacy on IYCF through One million campaign, WBW
’09 & IEC materials for promoting on IYCF, Divisional campaign/
TV extensive
Indicator -13
National PPTCT guideline finalized
Indicator -14
National IYCF strategy joint statement on IYCF in emergency issued
by GOB, UNICEF, WHO, BBF (Aila 2009 – no BMS to babies)
Indicator -15
Initiative 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.
Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation