Breastfeeding
The Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF) regularly publishes its Annual Report, which provides a comprehensive overview of the foundation's activities, achievements, research findings, and financial statements for the year. The report highlights BBF’s work in promoting breastfeeding, maternal nutrition, adequate nutritious complementary feeding, elderly nutrition, mother support group, baby friendly hospital initiative training and other key focus areas.
It also details the foundation's collaborations with national and international
organizations. These reports are disseminated to relevant stakeholders, including government bodies, healthcare providers, NGOs, and academic institutions, ensuring transparency and fostering continued collaboration.
Newsletter
BBF publishes a biannual newsletter to keep stakeholders informed about the latest developments in breastfeeding, nutrition, complementary feeding, and other related areas. The newsletter prioritizes recent research findings, highlights current programs, and discusses ongoing and upcoming initiatives. It serves as a platform for BBF to share important updates, research insights, and success stories, ensuring that relevant stakeholders—such as healthcare professionals, policy-makers, and community organizations—are aware of the progress being made in maternal and child health in Bangladesh.
Advocacy Tools
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- For Mothers and Newborns:
- Breastfeeding promotion materials that emphasize the importance of early initiation, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continued breastfeeding alongside complementary feeding.
- Posters, leaflets, and visual aids used in hospitals, clinics, and community health centers to educate mothers about breastfeeding practices and maternal nutrition.
- For Infants and Young Children:
- Guidelines on complementary feeding and educational materials to help caregivers introduce safe and nutritious foods after six months of exclusive breastfeeding.
- Recipe books and nutrition guides focused on preparing age-appropriate, locally available foods for infants and young children, with an emphasis on combating malnutrition. Special attention is given to the rehabilitation of children suffering from Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM).
- For Adolescents:
- Advocacy materials promoting adolescent nutrition, providing information on balanced diets and the critical role of proper nutrition in supporting growth and development. Emphasis is placed on strategies for reducing overweight and obesity. Developed nutrition promotion bilayer cycle.
- Educational booklets designed for schools and community programs to raise awareness about the importance of nutrition in adolescent health and well-being. It also offers guidance on preparing homemade nutritious recipes, with step-by-step instructions and cooking demonstrations to promote healthy eating habits.
- For the Elderly:
- Advocacy tools focusing on the nutritional needs of the elderly, including materials on maintaining health through balanced diets and addressing age-related nutritional deficiencies. Research is also provided to promote a healthy lifestyle in later years.
These advocacy tools are regularly integrated into national government programs, including maternal and child health programs, community training sessions, and public health campaigns. BBF also works closely with government and national agencies to ensure that these tools are used in Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) training and other national health training programs to strengthen the capacity of healthcare providers and community workers.
Capacity Development Tools
BBF has developed a range of capacity development tools designed to equip healthcare professionals, community health workers, and caregivers with the knowledge and skills required to improve maternal and child health outcomes. These tools are tailored to each stage of the life cycle:
- For Healthcare Providers:
- Training modules for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) that provide healthcare workers with the skills to support mothers in initiating and continuing breastfeeding.
- Workshops and manuals on nutrition counseling, focusing on breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and maternal nutrition, to enhance the capacity of healthcare workers.
- For Community Health Workers:
- For Community Health Workers: Training guides and educational resources for government health workers, utilizing tools such as handbooks, handouts, manuals, leaflets, and video presentations. These materials are used in community settings to educate and support mothers and caregivers on proper breastfeeding practices, complementary feeding, and overall child nutrition.
- Mother Support Group (MSG) for community volunteer service providers, offering training materials such as flip charts and videos. These resources provide peer support and education to mothers at the community level, ensuring ongoing support for breastfeeding and nutrition through a life-cycle approach.
- For Caregivers and Families:
- Capacity-building workshops, advocacy, and counseling sessions that empower caregivers with knowledge on food preparation, hygiene, and age-appropriate feeding practices. These initiatives aim to reduce malnutrition and improve child health by providing both basic and advanced knowledge and skills.
- Educational resources on maternal nutrition, infant and young child feeding, and overall health for family members and caregivers involved in child-rearing.
BBF’s capacity development tools are incorporated into national training programs supported by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), ensuring that healthcare professionals and community workers across Bangladesh are equipped to provide high-quality support to mothers, infants, children, and families.