National Strategy for Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) in Brunei Darussalam.

This National Strategy for MIYCN in Brunei Darussalam 2014-2020 is a nationwide sectoral document containing the first framework for MIYCN in Brunei Darussalam, underscoring the principles from the existing World Health Organisation and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) frameworks. Ministry of Health is committed to monitoring the progress of achieving targets in (i) reducing stunting among children under-5; (ii) reducing anemia in women of reproductive age; (iii) reduction in low birth weight; (iv) controlling childhood overweight; (v) increasing the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months; (vi) reducing childhood wasting. Optimal infant and young child feeding are crucial from birth to two years of age to ensure and support healthy growth and cognitive development. In addition to the prevention of common childhood diseases, both breastfeeding and safe complementary feeding provide a strong foundation in health for the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the subsequent years of childhood and adulthood.
The main objectives of the Strategy are (i) to contribute towards improving the health, nutrition, and wellbeing of infants and young children (0-5 years), and the health and wellbeing of mothers and mothers-to-be by protecting, promoting, supporting, and monitoring Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN); (ii) to set out the scope, vision, goals, principles and strategic directions on which MIYCN Taskforce will base its actions; (iii) to provide a framework for priorities and actions for the Government led by the Ministry of Health to address the protection, promotion, and support and monitoring of optimal MIYCN at the population level (iv) to demonstrate Brunei Darussalam’s commitment and support for global frameworks towards improving maternal and child health. The four key strategies outlined in the document are: Strategy 1: education, training, monitoring, research, and evaluation, identifying priority actions to increase awareness, knowledge, and skills on MIYCN among health workers and voluntary peer support members; to develop MIYCN awareness in the general public, schools, workplaces and communities; and to implement, evaluate and monitor MIYCN programs; Strategy 2: International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, identifying priority actions to adopt the Code and regulate the marketing of breast milk substitutes; Strategy 3: Supportive environment, identifying priority actions to create supportive and breastfeeding-friendly environments in the communities and workplaces; Strategy 4: Mother and child-friendly initiative, identifying priority actions to make all health facilities mother-and-child friendly and to undertake formal accreditation for this purpose.