The Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) has been working on protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding for over 30 years and earned credits and legitimacy to its work. BPNI is technical partner of the Government of India in implementing its MAA programme as well as member of several committees related to child health or nutrition, and has maintained a track record of working on ethics. BPNI does not receive funds from sources that have conflicts of interest such as the baby food industry or its allies.
The MOHFW-Government of India, WHO and UNICEF recommend i) initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth, ii) exclusive breastfeeding (only breastfeeding, nothing else) for the first six months of life and iii) continued breastfeeding till 2 years of age or beyond along with appropriate complementary feeding after six months of age.
The WHO and UNICEF launched the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in 1993 to implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” in the health facilities that provide maternity services.This led to improved breastfeeding outcomes in health facilities.
WHO has recently revised its guidance and improved the quality for adaptation at the national level.The MOHFW, Government of India did adopt BFHI in 1993 but it did not sustain beyond 1998. In 2016, the Government of India launched the Mothers Absolute Affection (MAA) programme and renewed its commitment to improve breastfeeding in the health facilities.The MOHFW in partnership with WHO and BPNI has developed the standards/tools for self – assessment and independent external assessment of health facilities under the guidance of TAG chaired by the Commissioner Child Health. Since the MAA programmes do not reach private health facilities, BPNI and Association of Health Care Providers in India (AHPI) joined hands for implementing the project in India to improve standards of care for early breastfeeding and skin to skin contact within an hour of birth. The project will focus on private health facilities.The centre will be hosted by the BPNI and would offer its technical advice and services to the willing private hospitals with maternity services all over India. This concept note provides rationale, objectives, governance, the process as well as the ‘standards/tools’ to be used for assessment, monitoring and accreditation of health facilities.