العربيةAccording to the World Health Organization, infant and young child nutrition is the basis of care that contributes to children’s growth. Around 30 percent of children under the age of five years worldwide suffer from stunting as a result of their low level of nutrition and frequent exposure to various diseases. Forty-five percent of children die from undernourishment and the first and second years of life are the most important. This is why the Ministry of Public Health has launched the” Infant and Young Child Nutrition Policy”. This policy encourages the importance of having a child’s first right to life: the state of nutrition for better health. The purpose of this national policy for infant and young child feeding is to fasten the efforts to promote, protect and support infant and young child feeding. The policy not only defines the responsibilities of the Lebanese Government but also defines the responsibilities of international organizations, non-governmental organizations and other interested parties. It also involves all relevant stakeholders and provides a framework for accelerating action, linking the relevant areas of intervention and using resources available in different sectors. Makhzoumi Foundation had several initiatives in relation to this policy including the implementation of the breastfeeding room in its primary healthcare center in Mazraa, with the support of the Ministry of Public Health and UNICEF and the training of mothers on breastfeeding and the continuous awareness sessions about infant and young child feeding.
