Increase Exclusive Breast Feeding

The Government of Ethiopia commits to Increase proportion of Infant (0-6) exclusively breastfeed from 61% to 85% by 2030 by doing the following actions through a multisectoral coordination and partnership with the UN, CSOs, Donors, Academia and private sector;-

Actions needed to attain Exclusive Breast Feeding

i. Government

Action 1: Enforce and revise policies that promote, protect and support EBF.

Action 2: Extend the existing maternity leave up to 6 months

Action 3: Enforce the implementation of national baby food control directive

Action 4: Enforce and expand the establishment of breast-feeding corners and workplace daycares

Action 5: Conduct awareness creation campaigns on EBF

Action 6: Expand the implementation of Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI)

Action 7: Establish breast milk bank

Action 8: Promote male engagement for improved maternal care

Action 7: Increase budget allocation for EBF programs and initiatives

i) Civil society organizations

Action 1: Advocate for the implementation and revision of policies and guidelines that promote EBF

Action 2: Support the capacity building trainings for health professionals and HEWs

Action 3: Support public awareness creation campaigns on EBF

Action 4: Support the implementation of BFHI

Action 5: Facilitate financial support through targeted projects on EBF

ii) United Nations family

Action 1: Advocate for the implementation and revision of policies and guidelines that promote EBF

Action 2: Support the implementation of BFHI

Action 3: Support public awareness creation campaigns on EBF

Action 4: Provide funding for EBF programs and initiatives

iii) Donors

Action 1: Provide funding for EBF promotion and protection programs and initiatives

iv) Academia

Action 1: Conduct research and generate evidence on EBF status, challenges and policy recommendations

Action 2: Integrate EBF into health professionals training program

Action 3: Create awareness on EBF through their community service

v) Private sectors

Action 1: Promote and implement baby food control directive;

Action 2: Adhere to the Codex and baby foods control directives in the production and promotion of the foods that are produced at manufacturing industries;

vi) Community

Action 1: Establish maternal care/mother to mother support group

Action 2: Promote male engagement through community groups

Action 3: Establish community daycare centers and breast-feeding corner

Action 4: Conduct community conversation on EBF to bring behavioral change