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Progress
Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative: the right initiative then and now
Since the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was launched by UNICEF and WHO in 1991-1992, the Initiative has grown, with more than 19,600 hospitals having been designated in 152 countries around the world over the last 15 years. The BFHI continues to be a central
component of strengthening breastfeeding support and early initiation,
as well as health-worker training.
The
BFHI placed breastfeeding on the health policy agenda of most countries
worldwide. The BFHI approach has been shown to be extremely effective,
increasing exclusive breastfeeding in many regions, even in the face of
continued advertising of commercial infant foods and increasing HIV
prevalence. The Initiative has galvanised global resources,
provided a common focus, and generated political will at the highest
levels. The Initiative's principles remain universally valid for all
mother/baby pairs, whatever their context.
The
importance of the Initiative's Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding
received renewed recognition in the new millennium. Flexibility in
implementation, related maternal and paediatric support,
sustainability, quality, cost, the special situation of HIV, and
community outreach are being addressed in the revised BFHI materials.
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