The International Baby Food Action Network, IBFAN, consists of public interest groups working around the world to reduce infant and young child morbidity and mortality. IBFAN aims to improve the health and well-being of babies and young children, their mothers and their families through the protection, promotion and support of
breastfeeding
Breastfeeding, or nursing, is the process by which human breast milk is fed to a child. Breast milk may be from the breast, or may be expressed by hand or pumped and fed to the infant. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that br ...
and optimal infant feeding practices. IBFAN works for universal and full implementation of the
International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (also known as the WHO Code) is an international health policy framework for breastfeeding promotion adopted by the World Health Assembly (WHA) of the World Health Organization (WHO) i ...
and Resolutions.
IBFAN was set up in 1979 due to the efforts of various individuals including
Gabrielle Palmer
Gabrielle Palmer has been involved in international efforts to stop the unethical promotion of breastmilk substitutes globally and to support appropriate infant feeding for over 40 years. She is the author of the seminal text, ''The Politics of ...
through UNICEF and the WHO.
In 1998 IBFAN received the
Right Livelihood Award. The RLA Jury has honoured IBFAN “for its committed and effective campaigning over nearly twenty years for the rights of mothers to choose to breastfeed their babies, in the full knowledge of the health benefits of breastmilk, and free from the commercial pressure and misinformation with which companies promote breastmilk substitutes.”
IBFAN's principles are:
#The right of infants everywhere to have the highest level of
health
Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...
.
#The right of families, and in particular women and children, to have enough nutritious food.
#The right of women to breastfeed and to make informed choices about infant feeding.
#The right of women to full support for successful breastfeeding and for sound infant feeding practices.
#The right of all people to
health services which meet basic needs.
#The right of health workers and consumers to
health care systems which are free of commercial pressures.
#The right of people to organise in international solidarity to secure changes which protect and promote basic health.
See also
*
Breastfeeding promotion
Breastfeeding promotion refers to coordinated activities and policies to promote health among women, newborns and infants through breastfeeding.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends infants should be exclusively breastfed for the fir ...
References
External links
official website
Infant feeding
International medical and health organizations
Organizations established in 1979
{{med-org-stub