Scope and purpose
In 2018, World Heath Organization (WHO) released guidelines with recommendations and best practice statements for breastfeeding counselling to pregnant women and lactating mothers. The guideline describes the recommended timing, number, modalities and human resources for breastfeeding counselling from pregnancy and up to 24 months or beyond. The guideline does not include guidance on how to implement the recommendations.
United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and WHO will develop the implementation guidance by reviewing existing evidence and in close coordination with inputs from an Advisory Committee. This Committee includes individuals from governments, academics and non-governmental organizations across all six WHO Regions.
Objectives of the meeting
WHO and UNICEF will jointly convene the members of the Advisory Committee in a 2-day face-to-face meeting at WHO HQ, Geneva from 27-28 August 2019 to discuss the outline and contents of the implementation guidance and request specific inputs from the Committee for the drafting of the guidance.
Expected outcomes
Following the 2-day face-to-face meeting at WHO HQ, the implementation guidance will be drafted taking into account the inputs received from the experts.
The implementation guidance is expected to include the following:
- National policy/guidance development (including several of the issues mentioned below, as well as the definition of a core package of breastfeeding counselling interventions and a referral system for complex breastfeeding issues)
- Human resources (identification of i) existing cadres who are already undertaking breastfeeding counselling and need to be informed of the WHO guideline, ii) existing cadres who can add breastfeeding counselling to their tasks and iii) the establishment of new/additional cadres for breastfeeding counselling where needed)
- Capacity building (pre-service/in-service and including competency assessment and supportive supervision)
- Supportive materials and job aids
- Financing
- Monitoring and evaluation (including relevant indicators)
- Breastfeeding counselling in emergency settings (preparedness and response)