I.   Profile/Rationale of the Health Program

A global strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) was issued jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2002, to reverse the disturbing trends in infant and young child feeding practices. This global strategy was endorsed by the 55th World Health Assembly in May 2002 and by the UNICEF Executive Board in September 2002 respectively.

In 2004, infant and young child feeding practices were assessed using the WHO assessment protocol and rated poor to fair. Findings showed four out of ten newborns were initiated to breastfeeding within an hour after birth, three out of ten infants less than six months were exclusively breastfed and the median duration of breastfeeding was only thirteen months. The complementary feeding indicator was also rated as poor since only 57.9 percent of 6-9 months children received complementary foods while continuing to breastfed. The assessment also found out that complementary foods were introduced too early, at the age of less than two months. These poor practices needed urgent action and aggressive sustained interventions.

To address these problems on infant and young child feeding practices, the first National IYCF Plan of Action was formulated. It aimed to improve the nutritional status and health of children especially the under-three and consequently reduce infant and under-five mortality. Specifically, its objectives were to improve, protect and promote infant and young child feeding practices, increase political commitment at all levels, provide a supportive environment and ensure its sustainability. Figure 1 shows the identified key objectives, supportive strategies and key interventions to guide the overall implementation and evaluation of the 2005-2010 Plan of Action. The main efforts were directed towards creating a supportive environment for appropriate IYCF practices. The approval of the National Plan of Action in 2005 helped the Department of Health (DOH) and its partners, in the development of the first (1st) National Policy on Infant and Young Child Feeding. Thus on May 23, 2005, Administrative Order (AO) 2005-0014: National Policies on IYCF was signed and endorsed by the Secretary of Health. The policy was intended to guide health workers and other concerned parties in ensuring the protection, promotion and support of exclusive breastfeeding and adequate and appropriate complementary feeding with continued breastfeeding. (1)

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The IYCF Strategic Plan of Action upholds the following guiding principles:

1. Children have the right to adequate nutrition and access to safe and nutritious food, and both are essential for fulfilling their right to the highest attainable standard of health. (5)

2. Mothers and Infants form a biological and social unit and improved IYCF begins with ensuring the health and nutritional status of women. (5)

3. Almost every woman can breastfeed provided they have accurate information and support from their families, communities and responsible health and non-health related institutions during critical settings and various circumstances including special and emergency situations.(5)

4. The national and local government, development partners, non-government organizations, business sectors, professional groups, academe and other stakeholders acknowledges their responsibilities and form alliances and partnerships for improving IYCF with no conflict of interest.

5. Strengthened communication approaches focusing on behavioral and social change is essential for demand generation and community empowerment.

GOAL, MAIN OBJECTIVE, OUTCOMES AND TARGETS

GOAL:

Reduction of child mortality and morbidity through optimal feeding of infants and young children

MAIN OBJECTIVE:

To ensure and accelerate the promotion, protection and support of good IYCF practice

OUTCOMES:

By 2016:

•  90 percent of newborns are initiated to breastfeeding within one hour after birth;
•  70 percent of infants are exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months of life; and
•   95 percent of infants are given timely adequate and safe complementary food starting at 6 months of age.

TARGETS:

By 2016:

•   50 percent of hospitals providing maternity and child health services are certified MBFHI;
•   60 percent of municipalities/cities have at least one functional IYCF support group;
•   50 percent of workplaces have lactation units and/or implementing nursing/lactation breaks;
•   100 percent of reported alleged Milk Code violations are acted upon and sanctions are implemented as appropriate;
•   100 percent of elementary, high school and tertiary schools are using the updated IYCF curricula including the inclusion of IYCF into the prescribed textbooks and teaching materials; and
• 100 percent of IYCF related emergency/disaster response and evacuation are compliant to the IFE guidelines.

II.    Target beneficiaries of the program are infants (0-11 months) and young children (12 to 36 months years old or 1 to 3 years old)

III.   Action/Work Plan

KEY INTERVENTION SETTINGS AND SERVICES

STRATEGIES,   PILLARS AND ACTION POINTS

STRATEGY1:  Partnerships   with  NGOsand  GOs in  the coordination and implementation of the IYCF Program

1.1   Formalize partnerships with GOs and NGOs working on IYCF program coordination and implementation

a.   Strengthen  the TWG to allow it to effectively coordinate the GOs and NGOs working for the IYCF Program

The national TWG will remain but will be strengthened. It shall be constituted by: NCDPC as Chair, FHO as secretariat and  representatives   from  NCDPC,FHO, NCHP, FDA, DJFMH, DSWD,CWC, NNC, ILO, WHO and UNICEF. This time, members of theTWG will be tasked to focus participation  to the intervention setting where it ismost relevant.

The TWG shall be reporting  regularly  to the Service Delivery Cluster  Head.  At  the  Regional  level,  the Regional Coordinators from the above offices shall collaborate    in   the   implementation   of   the   IYCF Program.  To ensure that  GO and NGO IYCF partners work together,  the composition of  the TWGs and AD Hoc committees  shall be made up of representatives from the government and non-government sectors and the Ad Hoc Committees shall be chaired by the relevant agency where the intervention setting belongs.

e. Programmed contracting out of activities to organizations outside of DOH