Modalities
Link to community based health and nutrition programmes including training and support to health facilities/staff and outreach/education that reaches other maternal services and programmes.
Conditions and considerations
- It is critical in emergency contexts to adhere to the Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (the Code) to protect infants from malnutrition, illness and death.
- Never include BMS in standard family kits.
- Donations and uncontrolled distributions of the following products put infants at risk:
- Breastmilk substitutes, including infant formula, follow–on formula and growing–up milk.
- Other milk products, eg, dried or liquid cow’s milk, soya milk, evaporated or condensed milk, fermented milk or yoghurt.
- Baby teas, juices and waters marketed as suitable for infants under 6 months.
- Bottles, teats, breast pumps.
- Any commercial complementary food marketed for use for infants under six months.
- Prevent donations: Never call for donations of these products; Be aware of relevant policies; Report any calls for, offers of or actual donations (including online media) to the designated authority.
- Detect and manage unprevented donations: Detect and report; intercept, transport and securely store; sort and handle.
- Provision of skilled breastfeeding and lactation support. In order for this counselling to have the most benefit for the prevention of wasting and for other child health and nutrition outcomes, personnel carrying out the counselling should have comprehensive training and be supervised regularly, with dedicated resources and time within health system strategic planning for this intervention.
- Where infant formula is indicated, determine infant formula need through individual–level assessment by a qualified health or nutrition worker trained in breastfeeding and infant feeding issues. Provide individual–level education, one–to–one demonstrations and practical training on safe preparation to the caregiver. Ensure follow–up (at least twice a month) and trace defaulters.