Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population commits to creating a supportive family-friendly workplace policies and regulations

Under this commitment, by 2030, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population (MoHSPP) plans to develop, implement and enforce supportive family-friendly workplace policies and regulations. This includes extending paid parental leave to 180 days (six months) after birth, allowing for flexible work arrangements for breastfeeding mothers, and making workplaces breastfeeding-friendly with dedicated space and time for breastfeeding by working mothers.

Moreover, the MoHSPP will work with relevant stakeholders to develop and implement national legislations on the International Code, which will be adapted in strong alignment with the Code on Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent WHA resolutions as well as national regulations and other mechanisms to operationalize the national legislations on the Code. Following the adoption of such national legislations and regulations, the MoHSPP plans to actively engage with and on private sectors, including BMS industries, distributors of BMS, and retail outlets, to regulate their marketing practices and sensitize them on laws and regulations in place regarding the national legislations/regulations on the Code to ensure compliance. Additionally, there will be awareness campaigns and sensitization sessions for healthcare professionals on the national legislations and regulations on the International Code.

Public awareness campaigns will be launched to educate the population about the benefits of breastfeeding and address common misconceptions. These campaigns will involve community engagement initiatives, where local leaders and health workers will promote breastfeeding practices and provide support to new mothers. The commitment is aimed to increase the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding from 41% (source - DHS 2023) to 65% in 2030.

Furthermore, MoHSPP will support the establishment of breastfeeding support groups at the community level. These groups will offer a platform for mothers to share experiences, receive guidance from healthcare professionals, and overcome challenges related to breastfeeding.