DOH held 1st Meeting of IYCF Ad-Hoc Committee for Interventions 2011-2016

Add:  Dr. Vicenta Borja of the National Center for Disease
Prevention and Control - Dep't. of Health explains the
objective of the 1st IYCF Ad-Hoc Meeting.

           The National Center for Disease Prevention and Control of the Department of Health conducted the 1st IYCF Ad-Hoc Committee Meeting for five interventions under the 2011-2016  National Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Strategic Plan of Action with the goal of reducing child morbidity and mortality through optimal feeding of infants and young children.  It was held on March 18, 2011 at the Family Health Office of the department.

          Ms. Susanita Tesiorna, President of ALLWIES, was one of those invited, who then committed to work for the two interventions namely the workplaces and family/community. She said that her organization and network has focused since last year on this sectoral issue under the Occupational Safety and Health Program after policy gains on the improvement of income of the workers in the informal economy, improved access to training, credit, market, social security and health insurance.    

        The Infanct and Young Child Feeding Plan of Action has  five intervention settings namely health facility, community, work place, school and industry in the plan supported by R.A. 10028, “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009”.  The goal of the IYCF is to reduce child mortality and morbidity through optimal feeding of infantsa and young children. The 2010-2011 expects outcome by 2016 as follows:  1) 90% of newborns are initiated to breastfeeding within one hour after birth, 2) 70% of infants are exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months of life, and 3) 95% of infants are given timely adequate and safe complementary food starting at six months of age.