National IYCF Policies

Bangladesh is a leader and early-adopter of policies that support infant and young child feeding practices. However, work remains to both implement and increase these commitments. We must make nutrition a national development priority and enforce existing laws and policies that protect and promote infant and young child feeding best practices.

In 2007, IPHN developed and published – in consultation with stakeholders – the National Strategy for Infant and Young Child feeding (IYCF) in Bangladesh. The specific objectives of the National Strategy, to be achieved by 2010, were to:

1. Increase the percentage of newborns who are breastfed within one hour of birth from 24% to 50% (early initiation of breastfeeding)
2. Increase the percentage of infants less than six months of age who are exclusively breastfed from 42% to 60% (exclusive breastfeeding)
3. Maintain the percentage of children aged 20-23 months who are still breastfed at 90% (continued breastfeeding)
4. Increase the percentage of children aged six to-nine months who are breastfed and receive appropriate complementary foods to 50% (complementary feeding)

 

Since the release of the National Strategy, IPHN has developed and published the "Infant and Young Child Feeding National Plan of Action 2009 – 2011." This action plan is designed to formulate a set of specific activities in accordance with the national strategy on IYCF and to identify responsible agencies and funding sources, as well as a time frame for such activities.