A regional workshop on infant and young child feeding took place in Casablanca, Morocco, from 28 to 31 July 2003.
The objectives of the workshop were to:
- review the present status of infant and young child feeding in relation to the global strategy on infant and young child feeding in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region; and
- develop an outline of country plans of action to promote the implementation of the global strategy on infant and young child feeding at national level in Member States.
Future development of countries depends on their ability to develop a healthy population of children: child feeding practices are an integral part of child health and are essential for children’s healthy growth and development. Member States have committed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), which among others aim at reducing the prevalence of malnutrition within the context of poverty alleviation and reducing child mortality, to which malnutrition is a major underlying cause. However, infant and young child feeding practices are largely suboptimal in the Region, and a lack of national policies and comprehensive strategies on child feeding has hampered the efforts undertaken in countries. It was acknowledged that despite active promotion of breastfeeding in the past, international and national support to it had decreased in recent years while breastfeeding practices had remained largely inadequate in all countries. On the other hand, very little support had been provided to complementary feeding, a key area of child health and development; family practices remained far below the desirable levels. Micronutrient deficiencies, especially iron-deficiency anaemia, also remained a major public health problem in the Region. Finally, partnerships were seen as key to successful implementation strategies.
Related links
Key family practices on child health care: exclusive breastfeeding
Key family practices on child health care: complementary feeding
A regional workshop on infant and young child feeding took place in Casablanca, Morocco, from 28 to 31 July 2003.
The objectives of the workshop were to:
- review the present status of infant and young child feeding in relation to the global strategy on infant and young child feeding in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region; and
- develop an outline of country plans of action to promote the implementation of the global strategy on infant and young child feeding at national level in Member States.
Future development of countries depends on their ability to develop a healthy population of children: child feeding practices are an integral part of child health and are essential for children’s healthy growth and development. Member States have committed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), which among others aim at reducing the prevalence of malnutrition within the context of poverty alleviation and reducing child mortality, to which malnutrition is a major underlying cause. However, infant and young child feeding practices are largely suboptimal in the Region, and a lack of national policies and comprehensive strategies on child feeding has hampered the efforts undertaken in countries. It was acknowledged that despite active promotion of breastfeeding in the past, international and national support to it had decreased in recent years while breastfeeding practices had remained largely inadequate in all countries. On the other hand, very little support had been provided to complementary feeding, a key area of child health and development; family practices remained far below the desirable levels. Micronutrient deficiencies, especially iron-deficiency anaemia, also remained a major public health problem in the Region. Finally, partnerships were seen as key to successful implementation strategies.
Related links
Key family practices on child health care: exclusive breastfeeding
Key family practices on child health care: complementary feeding
