National Policy on Feeding of Infants and Young Children 2008.

This National Policy on Feeding of Infants and Young Children is a sectoral policy document. This policy shall cover the whole health sector. The overall goal is to improve the survival and well being of infants and young children by improving their nutritional status, growth, and development through optimal feeding. The target beneficiaries of this policy are 1.Pregnant women: 2 Infants, under 1 year of age; 3. Young children, 1 year up to 5 years of age; 4. Women of reproductive age. This Policy will serve as a guide for health workers and other concerned parties on infant and young child feeding.
The Policy seeks to help improve malnutrition of the target beneficiaries. The Specific objectives of the Policy include: • All newborns are initiated to breastfeeding within one hour of birth; • All infants are exclusively breastfed for 6 months; • All infants are given timely, appropriate, and safe complementary foods; • Breastfeeding is continued up to two years and beyond; • Appropriate care, counseling, and other services for infants and young child feeding are provided to all infants and young children and their families, including children in special circumstances (such as times of emergency), and for HIV-positive mothers and their infants, and for children during times of illness; etc. According to the policy document, severe malnutrition infants and young children who are severely malnourished are most often found in environments where improving the quality and quantity of food intake is particularly problematic, or children who are infected by HIV and experience chronic infections. Programs to rehabilitate severely malnourished children in the hospital, clinic, health center or community setting, should include the elements for appropriate feeding practices in difficult circumstances as prescribed in the policy document.