| National
Convention of BPNI in New Delhi
on 9th and 10th Dec 2005
National Convention of
BPNI was held at India Habitat
Centre, New Delhi on 9th and 10th
Dec 2005. This convention had
participants representing all
parts of India. There were BPNI
members, members from NGO’s,
Government departments, and other
institutions. There were health
professionals and participants
from other walks of life also.
Renowned paediatrician Dr. Shanti
Ghosh inaugurated the Opening
Session on the first day and Dr.
Prema Ramachandran, Director;
Nutrition Foundation of India
gave inaugural address. It was
followed by Sharing of district
level action on IYCF with presentations
from BPNI district coordinators
from different parts of India.
The second session was on HIV
and Infant Feeding with Prof.
A.P. Dubey from MAMC, Delhi as
Chairperson and speakers were
Dr. Indra Prakash, Jt. Director
(Training), NACO, Ms. Vidya Ganesh,
UNICEF, Prof. M.M.A. Faridi, UCMS,
Delhi and Dr. Rajesh Gopal, SACS,
Gujarat. Then there were presentations
from different stakeholders about
infant feeding in the context
of HIV. It was followed by group
work on strengthening of infant
feeding: policy and programme
facilitated by Dr. M.M.A. Faridi
(Group a) and Dr. J.P. Dadhich
(Group b).
The second day of the convention
was devoted to Infant and Young
Child Feeding in Emergency Situations.
Dr. K.K. Agarwal, Vice Chancellor,
Indraprastha University, Delhi
chaired this session and inaugural
address was given by Mr. Vinod
Menon, Member, National Disaster
Management Authority. Dr. Shashi
Prabha Gupta, Technical Advisor,
MWCD, GOI chaired the next session
on Sharing technical information
and field data. Dr. Sangeeta Saxena,
ACCH, MOHFW gave introduction
to the problem. Then Dr. Anchita
Patil, WHO (India) presented the
WHO Guidelines on Infant Feeding
in Emergencies. This was followed
by reports from the states of
Mumbai, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry
and Jammu and Kashmir where surveys
were done on Status of Infant
feeding in Emergencies recently
faced by these states.
Next was a panel discussion on
Mainstreaming with current disaster
preparedness moderated by Mr.
N.M. Prusty, from SPHERE and with
participation by Ms. Deepika Nayar,
CARE India, Dr. Sangeeta Yadav,
IAP, Brig. (Dr.) B.K. Khanna,
NDMA, and Dr. J. Ganthimathi,
Indian Red Cross Society.
Dr. Shanti Ghosh chaired the closing
ceremony and final recommendations
were presented by Dr. J.P. Dadhich
(for HIV and Infant Feeding) and
Dr. Arun Gupta (for Infant Feeding
in Emergency Situations) after
getting inputs from the delegates.
And finally convention came to
an end after distribution of World
Breastfeeding Week Awards to state
and district branches, NGOs and
government institutions.
Proceedings of this convention
have been compiled in the form
of two reports, one on Infant
Feeding and HIV and second on
Infant Feeding in Emergency Situations
and have been shared with all
stakeholders and others.
Inputs
into National Policy. Dr. Arun
Gupta held discussions with Dr.
Vinod Paul from Department of
Paediatrics, AIIMS, on 26 Nov
2005 concerning IYCF related issues.
The objective of the meeting was
to provide inputs for National
Policy. |
| Participation
in Newborn week 2005
Symposium on ‘Neonatal
Transport’. Dr. Arun Gupta
attended ‘Release of Commemorative
Postal Stamp on Newborn Health
in India’ and ‘Symposium
on Neonatal Transport’ on
the occasion of Newborn Week 2005
during the Silver Jubilee year
of NNF on 24 November
2005. |
| Discussions
with Jan Swasthya Abhiyan
Dr. Arun Gupta had detailed discussions
with Dr. Vandana Prasad of Jan
Swasthya Abhiyan on 22
November 2005 concerning
child health and development related
issues and how to mainstream breastfeeding
and child survival issue. |
| Participation
in National Consultative Meeting
on Child Survival and Development
of Urban Poor Population at Maulana
Asad Medical College (MAMC), New
Delhi
A National Consultative Meeting
on Child Survival and Development
of Urban Poor Population was held
from 19-20 November 2005 at MAMC,
Delhi. The objectives were: In-depth
discussion on Child Survival and
Development Concerns of Urban
Poor and Migratory Populations
in light of GOI’s RCH II
Programme/NRHM; to identify specific
areas in which IAP and its chapters
can work in partnership with the
government and other agencies
concerned at national, state and
city levels to improve child health
among the urban poor; to recommend
feasible strategies for improving
child health among this hitherto
neglected group and to develop
outlines for Child Survival and
Development plans in 1 large and
1 medium sized city of India.
Participants included IAP members,
members from academic institutions,
GOI, state governments, WHO, UNICEF,
USAID, NGOs, public health, media,
etc. Dr. J.C. Sobti represented
BPNI at the meeting. |
| Participation
at Concluding Mid-Term Review
of the Government of India-UNICEF,
Country Programme 2003-2007 at
Delhi
The Concluding Session of the
Mid-Term Review of the Government
of India-UNICEF, Country Programme
2003-2007 was held at Hotel Le
Meridien, Delhi, on 10 November
2005, organised jointly by the
MWCD, GOI and UNICEF India. The
purpose of the meeting was to
review the present programme,
to identify the gaps and difficult
areas to recommend amendments
for future plan for the remaining
period of the Master Plan of Operations
(MPO). UNICEF is carrying out
implementation of programmes as
per the agreement signed for the
period 2003-07. Dr. Arun Gupta
from BPNI represented in the meeting. |
| National
Workshop on Pre-service Education
organised by BPNI from 5-6 November
2005 at Gurgaon, Haryana
A 2-day Workshop on Sensitisation
of Nodal Senior Faculty Members
from the departments of Pediatrics
and Community Medicine was organised
by BPNI from 5-6 November 2005
at the Hotel Royal Retreat, Gurgaon.
There were 26 participants from
all over the country, covering
all five zones. Its aim was Commitment
to promotion of child health and
development and collective efforts
to improve infant and young child
feeding in the country. The participants,
including eminent medical teachers,
agreed to be among the regional
medical college leaders for incorporating
IYCF into the undergraduate curriculum
of medical students. The workshop
primarily focused on the following
broad areas -
(a) The learning objectives and
identify gaps in the current teaching
of ‘Essentials of IYCF’
to medical students;
(b) Decide ‘what’
(contents), ‘how’
(teaching methods) and ‘when’
(which semesters) to introduce
the desired changes in the revised
curriculum;
(c) Preparation of Action Plan
by the individual institution
that would include training of
faculty members in lactation management
and complementary feeding and
curriculum planning. The action
plan included proposed activities
to sensitise and train key personnel
from the neighboring medical colleges
assigned to each regional leader.
|
Participation
in South Asia Breastfeeding
Partners’ Forum 2 in Nepal:
Ensure Exclusive Breastfeeding:
Save Newborn Lives. South Asia
Breastfeeding Partners’
Forum 2 was held at Kathmandu,
from 26-28 October 2005
It was convened by IBFAN/UNICEF
Rosa, and hosted by NEFPROF,
Nepal. BPNI sent its representatives
Dr. C.R. Banapurmath, Dr. Sanjay
Prabhu, Dr. J.C. Sobti and Dr.
J.P. Dadhich. The meeting resulted
in the adoption of action recommendations
to contribute towards achieving
the UN’s Millennium Development
Goals. It called upon the governments
of South Asian countries, UNICEF,
WHO, UNAIDS, and other international
organisations, health professionals,
and NGOs, including media to
work in partnership with each
other on this issue. The following
10 recommendations were adopted:
-
Universalise neonatal care,
by adopting in principle the
“Neonatal integrated package”
which includes 'breastfeeding
education', as recommended in
the MDG Report to the Secretary
General, 2005”.
-
Ensure that there is a budget
line to enhance early and exclusive
breastfeeding.
-
Make all efforts to enhance
the practice of early and exclusive
breastfeeding for the first
six months and continued breastfeeding
along with adequate and appropriate
complementary feeding for two
years or beyond.
-
Revitalise Baby Friendly Hospital
Initiative (BFHI) and expand
it to family /community level
calling it BFHI-CI.
-
Review the communication strategies
of breastfeeding movement and
link with other groups proactively
and productively.
-
Strategically link with media
professionals, providing them
with up to date, accurate and
timely information, and organise
structured education programmes
for media.
-
Issue/revise guidelines on HIV
and infant feeding on a regular
basis basis, as an integral
part of training.
-
Ensure the International Code
for Marketing of Breastmilk
Substitutes and subsequent relevant
WHA resolutions are legislated
and implemented effectively,
specially the 'sponsorship'
clause from WHA 2005.
-
Develop clear operational guidelines
for handling infant feeding
during emergencies.
-
Build national/institutional
capacities for training of workers
in breastfeeding, complementary
feeding and HIV infant feeding
counselling; Code implementation
and monitoring; management and
other related issues.
|
| Participation
in Preparatory meeting for 27th
session of Codex Committee on
Nutrition and Foods for Special
Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU)
Dr. J.C. Sobti attended a meeting
of Shadow Committee on Nutrition
and Biotechnology on 24th October
2005, for discussions on agenda
items of 27th session of CCNFSDU
scheduled for 21-25 Nov 2005 at
Bonn, Germany. Food and Nutrition
Board, Dept of Women and Child
Development, Ministry of Human
Resource Development, GOI, organised
the meeting. |
| Participation
in review of NIPCCD training in
relevance to IYCF
Dr. Arun Gupta and Dr. Sobti from
BPNI met with NIPCCD Director,
Dr. Arun Kumar Gopal, on 18 October
2005 to welcome Dr. Gopal, and
discuss BPNI’s role and
its activities in collaboration
with NIPCCD. Dr. Gopal assured
continued support to strengthen
breastfeeding and IYCF issues
by NIPCCD on a regular basis.
He also assured enhanced participation
as well as closer collaboration
for better results and output.
Meanwhile, NIPCCD has made IYCF
a part of its training programme
of middle level functionaries
|
| Participation
in review of NIPCCD training in
relevance to IYCF
Dr. Arun Gupta and Dr.
Sobti from BPNI met with NIPCCD
Director, Dr. Arun Kumar Gopal,
on 18 October 2005 to welcome
Dr. Gopal, and discuss BPNI’s
role and its activities in collaboration
with NIPCCD. Dr. Gopal assured
continued support to strengthen
breastfeeding and IYCF issues
by NIPCCD on a regular basis.
He also assured enhanced participation
as well as closer collaboration
for better results and output.
Meanwhile, NIPCCD has made IYCF
a part of its training programme
of middle level functionaries
|
| Rapid
Assessment of the Status of Global
Strategy for IYCF in South Asia
Countries
Rapid Assessment of
the Status of Global Strategy
for Infant and Young Child Feeding
(IYCF) practices at the National
Level---Finding Gaps has been
carried out in eight South Asia
Countries viz. Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka. All South
Asian countries reports were presented
along with country specific plan
of action, at the South Asia Breastfeeding
Partners’ Forum–2
at Kathmandu in October 2005.
In India this assessment was carried
out by BPNI, NNF and AIIMS. The
Indian report was published as
India Report and circulated among
all the stakeholders. IBFAN Asia
Pacific as a part of Strategic
Plan 2003-2008 has proposed a
rapid assessment of the Status
of GSIYCF to measure the situation
at the national level and to document
existing gaps. It is hoped that
the same process will be followed
in the year 2007/2008 so as to
reassess the progress and contribute
to trends.
|
| Participated
in Workshop on Neonatal and Infant
Morbidity and Mortality at PGI,
Chandigarh
Dr. J.P. Dadhich, Coordinator,
BPNI, participated at the Workshop
on Neonatal and Infant Morbidity
and Mortality: Contributors, Biology
and Intervention Strategies held
at PGI, Chandigarh from 28-29
September 2005. It was organised
under the aegis of the Indo-US
collaboration on Maternal and
Child Health and Human Development
Research for identifying priority
research issues, potential research
investigators and help in the
development of appropriate research
proposals in this area. BPNI provided
important inputs about optimal
IYCF practices. One of the ideas
was to utilise this Indo-US platform
to invite eminent research scientists
from both United States and India
together during the workshop. |
| Improving
the counselling skills of frontline
workers in Tamil Nadu. During
September 2005
BPNI has submitted a 3-Year Project
Proposal - 2006-2008 on Strengthening
Infant and Young Child Feeding
Counselling Skills of women frontline
workers in Tamil Nadu, India,
for funding to UNICEF NATCOM,
Luxembourg through UNICEF India,
Delhi. |
| Disseminating
National Plan of Action for Children
2005 to various professional organisations
A meeting to discuss
National Plan of Action was organised
at the India International Centre
on 30 August 2005, which was represented
by Dr. JC Sobti from BPNI. The
role of BPNI was to help contact
Professional Organisations and
National Partners for dissemination
of National Plan of Action. |
| BPNI
Bulletin. BPNI is publishing
a bulletin giving latest information
about infant and young child feeding,
violations of the IMS Act, activities
in the headquarter and different
state and district branches of
BPNI. Over these three years 6
bulletins wee published from No.
23 to 28 covering following topics:
Bulletin No 23:
October 2003: wide coverage was
given to the amendment of the
IMS Act and WHAT is PROHIBITED
and WHAT is NOT in the Amended
IMS Act.
Bulletin No 24:
April 2004: it covered the Asia
Pacific Conference on Breastfeeding
and National Convention of BPNI,
Infant Feeding and HIV-A Regional
Colloquium for the Asia Pacific
and World Breastfeeding Week 2003.
Bulletin No 25:
July 2004: coverage was given
to forthcoming World Breastfeeding
Week 2004 and articles on breastmilk
importance.
Bulletin No 26: December 2004:
it covered World Breastfeeding
Week 2004 and release of District
Specific Report on Status of Infant
and Young Child Feeding in 2003.
Bulletin No 27:
June 2005: it describes how the
IMS Act was stopped from repealing
by Government of India, and carried
an article on Public Health Risk
of Enterobacter sakasakii and
other micro organisms in Powdered
Infant Formula.
Bulletin No 28:
February 2006: It highlighted
World Breastfeeding Week 2005
activities all over India, World
Breastfeeding Week Awards |
| Participation
in Evaluation of WHO India Activities
A meeting was organised
by the WHO India titled Evaluation
of the WHO India Activities on
2 August 2005. Objective
of the discussions with BPNI was
to discuss its activities and
role. Dr. JC Sobti of BPNI informed
the house about the activities
of BPNI and recommended that NGOs
should be involved with WHO to
collaborate in the activities
carried out from time to time. |
| Meeting
between BPNI and various government
departments to discuss the agenda
of next session of Codex Committee
A Meeting of Shadow Committee
on Nutrition and Biotechnology
was conducted by the Ministry
of HRD, Ministry of Women and
Child Development, Food and Nutrition
Board in New Delhi on 27 July
2005 for the discussions on agenda
items of 27th session of Codex
Committee on Nutrition and Foods
for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU)
scheduled for 21-25 November
2005 at Bonn, Germany.
Dr. Arun Gupta from BPNI represented
it. |
| Participation
in meeting to fight for the rights’
of the mother
A meeting was organised by the
Jan Swasthya Abhiyan on 20
July 2005 with a few
partners to discuss the threat
to withdraw the National Maternity
Benefit Scheme and replace it
with Janani Suraksha Yojna. The
issue of Maternity Entitlements
brings together women’s
rights in the situation of maternity,
her rights as a worker as well
as her need for support for care
of the new born. Maternity and
the first few months of life of
the newborn is thus a situation
during which the rights of the
child cannot be separated from
the rights of the mother. Dr.
Jagdish C. Sobti from BPNI participated
in this meeting. |
| Participation
in Regional Consultation on Nutrition
in Orissa. Dr. Arun Gupta, national
coordinator
Dr. Parbati Sen Gupta,
Dr. Sunita Katyayan and Dr. Satpathy,
BPNI coordinators from West Bengal,
Jharkhand and Orissa, participated
at the Regional Consultation on
Nutrition, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa,
18-19 July 2005.
It included important session
on malnutrition and infant and
young child nutrition, caring
practices micronutrients, and
food fortification. Dr. Arun Gupta
made a presentation on the impact
of breastfeeding on child health,
development and survival and addressed
significant issue to focus on
skills of workers and need of
support to women. He emphasized
that more resources need to be
allocated. During deliberations
several questions were asked and
clarifications sought. |
| Participation
in National Consultation on ICDS
organised by government departments
The Ministry of HRD
and the Ministry of Women and
Child Development organised a
National Consultation on ICDS:
Universalisation with Quality,
with UNICEF’s cooperation
from 6-7 July 2005 at
the Parliament House Annexe, New
Delhi. It was in an endeavour
to collectively renew Govt of
India commitment to their shared
vision of child friendly villages
with healthy, well-nourished children,
who are active learners. Dr. Arun
Gupta represented from BPNI. |
‘National
Partners Planning Meeting’
held in June 2005. The second
National Partners’ Planning
Meeting was held in Mussoorie
from 23 to 24 June 2005
It was organised by BPNI in consultation
with Ministry of Women & Child
Development (MWCD), Ministry of
Human Resource Development and
in collaboration with UNICEF,
India. This meeting was a follow
up of a similar meeting titled
Promoting Breastfeeding: The Way
Forward which was organised in
Mussoorie in November 2002. The
conduct of November 2002 meeting
resulted in the development of
a ‘Draft Action Plan for
India’ submitted to the
Secretary-WCD. It facilitated
several important and useful actions
for the country though much remains
to be done.
In the month of April 2005, the
National Breastfeeding Committee
meeting was chaired by the Joint
Secretary WCD, Sh. Chaman Kumar;
the Chairman of the Committee.
It was decided that a National
Action Plan on Breastfeeding be
evolved by NIPCCD, in consultation
with BPNI. In this regard, BPNI
had initial discussions with NIPCCD
and planned to organise a National
Partners’ Planning Meeting
at Mussoorie from 23-24 June 2005.
The objectives of the meeting
included holding extensive discussions
on infant and young child feeding
issues for promoting optimal breastfeeding
practices, complementary feeding
practices among all populations
and counselling on infant feeding
options to HIV positive women.
The key partners at the meeting
included ACASH, IAP, IMA, NNF,
NIN, NIPCCD, and UNICEF, Min of
Health and Family Welfare, FOGSI,
NIHFW, TNAI, JSA.
Recommendations
to Strengthen IYCF:
|
| BPNI
meets Govt. of Maharashtra and
UNICEF to find ways to strengthen
the Organisation
Dr. Arun Gupta and Dr.
Tarsem Jindal from BPNI headquarters
visited Maharashtra from 23-24
July 2005 for a meeting
with BPNI Maharashtra to hold
discussions on various key issues.
They met officials from the Government
of Maharashtra, Mr. Chandrasen
Turkar (Dept. of Women and Child
Development) and Dr. B. Kishore
(UNICEF Mumbai State Office),
along with members from BPNI Maharashtra
including - Dr. N.B. Kumta, Dr.
Vasant Khatav, Dr. Charu Suraiya,
Dr. Satish Tiwari, Dr. Alka Kuthe,
Dr. Prashant Gangal, Ms. Priya
Deo, Mr. Sanjay Prabhu, J. Vagha
and from ACASH – Dr. R.K.
Anand and Dr. Pawan Surekha. The
meeting was held at Rambhau Mhagali
Prabhodini, Bhayender on 23 July
2005. The meeting resulted in
useful discussions and highlighted
several issues and identified
targets in order to strengthen
BPNI Maharashtra in close collaboration
with UNICEF State Office and the
concerned authorities of the Government
of Maharashtra. It was decided
to get involved into more activities
for organisation’s growth
and achieve its aims and targets |
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