Promoting baby-friendly hospitals

In 2015, WHO and UNICEF began a process to re-evaluate and reinvigorate the BFHI programme. A WHO guideline Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding in facilities providing maternity and newborn services was published in 2017, based on a careful examination of evidence for each of the Ten Steps. An updated implementation guidance for countries implementing the BFHI was published in 2018.

The implementation guidance for BFHI emphasizes strategies to scale up to universal coverage and ensure sustainability over time. The guidance focuses on integrating the programme more fully in the health-care system, to ensure that all facilities in a country implement the Ten Steps.

Countries are called upon to fulfill nine key responsibilities through a national BFHI programme:

1. Establish or strengthen a national breastfeeding coordination body.
2. Integrate the Ten Steps into relevant national policy documents and professional standards of care.
3. Ensure the competency of health professionals and managers in implementation of the Ten Steps.
4. Utilize external assessment systems to regularly evaluate adherence to the Ten Steps.
5. Develop and implement incentives for compliance and/or sanctions for non-compliance with the Ten Steps.
6. Provide technical assistance to facilities that are making changes to adopt the Ten Steps.
7. Monitor implementation of the initiative.
8. Advocate for the BFHI to relevant audiences.
9. Identify and allocate sufficient resources to ensure the ongoing funding of the initiative.