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9.3 Young Child Feeding

The Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding was endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 2002. The aim of this strategy is to improve, through optimal feeding, the nutritional status, growth and development, health, and thus the survival of infants and young children.

"Malnutrition has been responsible, directly or indirectly, for 60% of the 10.9 million deaths, which are often associated with inappropriate feeding practices, occurring during the first year of life.....malnourished children who survive are more frequently sick and suffer the life-long consequences of impaired development."1,2

The strategy's specific objectives are:

The document acknowledges these important background principles:
Note also that this document also states the hierarchy of feeding options as you have learned in Topic 7.3 and 7.5.

Source: Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding, WHO 2003

Workbook Activity 9.5

Does your Unit have a copy of this document?

If your Unit does not have a copy of this document it can be obtained, for a small cost, from the World Health Organisation website. Click on the icon to be taken to the order form. While at the website order Implementing the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding at the same time - it is a free publication.

Alternatively, you could download the Strategy for no cost from PDFthe World Health Organisation website.

Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding

Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding

What should I remember?

  • To ensure my workplace has a copy of the Global Strategy for Infant and Young child feeding.
  • The aim of the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding
  • The 3 specific objectives outlined that will achieve the aim
  • Consider your role in the implementation of this strategy in your place of work

Notes

  1. # World Health Organisation (2003) Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding
  2. # Gupta A. (2006) Infant and young child feeding: an optimal approach.