MWG Happy New Year 2010 Greetings

Happy New Year 2010 Greetings!
WABA Men’s Working Group would like to wish you and your families a Happy and Healthy New Year 2010.
There is no time like now to honour the men and boys in your life, especially those who support mothers. We thank you for your commitment and support in 2009 and hope that you will continue to join WABA Men’s Working Group in our efforts to ensure that men live longer, healthier and happier lives in 2010 and beyond, while supporting breastfeeding mothers around the world.
Wishing you a Beautiful Season and a New Year of Peace and Happiness.

WABA Men’s Working Group

Cameroon Gets WBTi Orientation Training

By Doualla Etongo Priscille
Cameroon Link Group
14 trainers have been oriented on the new WBTi in Cameroon. The orientation training preparation team received IBFAN Africa Consultant and Director of UniNutri Services, Pauline Kisanga, from Swaziland at the Douala International Airport on the 10th November at 19h30 from a timely South Africa Airlines Flight.
Pauline Kisanga, IBFAN Consultant designated as the principal facilitator and James Achanyi-Fontem, National Coordinator of IBFAN Cameroon Link Group acted as the country facilitator of the trainer of trainers WBTi workshop. Participants came from the government, public and private key nutrition NGO advocacy organisations. The selection of participants considered gender aspects with target groups involving men, women and youths in the learning process.
Training Package
The training package presentations on Power Point tackled all the relevant issues related to the starting of a WBTi in a country and the content included the following:
• The Global Strategy and objectives of the workshop
• Status of IYCF in Cameroon and the national perspective
• WBTI – A successful Initiative
• Tracking, Assessing and Monitoring of GSIYCF – South Asia/Africa ExperienceReading Exercise of the Green Book
• Interactive Discussions with Questions and Answers
• How to conduct a national assessment
• Understanding the indicators (1 – 15)
• Work in groups and presentation of work group reports
• Analysis of data, report writing and presentation (exploiting the samples of Asia country reports)
• How to develop recommendations for actions to bridge the gaps
• Work in groups on developing recommendations and presentation of work in groups
• Utilizing WBTi Information
• What is the web action in WBTi
• How to avoid conflict of interest at national level
• Action Plan for Cameroon and Way Forward
• Executive Budget Estimate

Welcome Address
The welcome address on the occasion of the opening of the 2-day orientation training workshop on the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative in Cameroon on the 12th and 13th November 2009 was made by the National Coordinator of Cameroon Link, James Achanyi-Fontem, who doubles as the Focal Point for IBFAN Cameroon Group and the President of the Federation of Cameroon Breastfeeding Promotion Associations, FECABPA.
Mr. Achanyi-Fontem said, Cameroon was honoured to have the opportunity to welcome the orientation training workshop on the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) in Douala. He thanked Mrs. Joyce Chanetsa, the Regional Coordinator of IBFAN Africa who included Cameroon on the list of countries to benefit from the orientation training on the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiatiive (WBTi) and Mrs. Pauline Kisanga, Director of UniNutri , IBFAN RC Emeritus for accepting to come to Cameroon to capacitate and share her experiences with the Infant and Young Child Feeding advocates.
Under the guidance of the Ministry of Public Health secondary data was reached for preparation of the workshop using WHO/ UNICEF data and information to analysis the 15 key indicators of Cameroon’s trends so far documented. IBFAN Cameroon Group coordinator acknowledged that the training will assist in the expansion of breastfeeding protection, promotion and support work throughout Cameroon.
Presenting Pauline Kisanga, the former Regional Coordinator of IBFAN Africa, Mr. Achanyi-Fontem described her as an advocate ambassador of breastfeeding of Africa region. She has published several works including, “The Process for Successful Implementation of ILO Maternity Protection Convention 183 of 2000 at National Level: Africa Regional Experience of Step by Step Action” and “The Protection, Support, and Promotion of Breastfeeding in HIV: Policy Guidelines by IBFAN Africa”.
Pauline is special to Cameroon Link, because in her capacity as the former Regional Coordinator of IBFAN Africa and with the support of Baby Milk Action UK, Cameroon was co-opted and affiliated into the Anglophone and Lusophone IBFAN Africa Group in 2000. With her coaching and constant support, Cameroon Link grew from strength to strength and was recipient of the IBFAN Africa distinction in 2007 in Maputo, Mozambique during the 7th Regional Conference for its commitment and engaging support for the protection and promotion of breastfeeding in the continent as a whole and Cameroon in particular.
Cameroon Link today pilots the Federation of Cameroon Breastfeeding Promotion Associations, FECABPA, and the Men’s Initiative of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, WABA, while remaining the Focal Point for the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN Africa) in the country. At Cameroon Link, the slogan is, “Babies can’t wait”. Breastfeeding is a baby’s right and it should be on demand and exclusive for the first six months after delivery with complimentary feeding and continued breastfeeding up to 24 months and beyond. Cameroon Link remains more committed than before, especially as the 23rd November 2009 makes its 20th Anniversary.
This means that Cameroon Link celebrates its 20th anniversary with the new initiative, “The World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi).” The data and information presented during the WBTi orientation training workshop were based on information collected from the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) in Cameroon, statistics from the ministry of public health, ministry of planning, programming and territorial development in Yaoundé, WHO, UNICEF and ILO sources.
It should be noted that comprehensive survey results are published in the DHS final reports approximately 8 – 12 months after the completion of fieldwork while standard reports are approximately 200 pages in length and include topics on household and respondent characteristics, fertility and family planning, maternal and child health, nutrition and HIV/AIDS.
The department for health promotion in the ministry of public health contributed through researched data as the policy and decision making channel within the frame work of its partnership with Cameroon Link Group that reports regularly on all its activities.
Cameroon’s key indicators collection is on-going for revision and publication in April 2010 after the survey on the rights of the child to food. As Cameroon joins the WBTi, it is observed by IBFAN Cameroon Link that there is net progress made already as it scores well in 12 of the 15 key indicator areas. The WBTi training brought to light the gaps and recommendations which will be published in the final report by December 15.

WBTI Training
During the WBTi orientation training workshop organized in Douala by the IBFAN Cameroon Focal Point with the support of IBFAN Africa regional office, it was observed that efforts have been made in the area of Infant and Young Child Feeding with the support of UNICEF. Though there is a net progress in the area of exclusive breastfeeding, statistics have to be collected regularly for up dates starting from the health facilities.

GLOBAL STRATEGY ON IYCF
After the presentation of secondary data in Cameroon during the training, IBFAN Africa consultant, Pauline Kisanga spoke about the evolution of the GSIYCF since 2000, emphasizing on the fact that all countries that endorsed the WHO/WHA recommendations were requested to implement the strategy as national policy.
The GSIYCF was put in place to promote good practices and create supportive environment for the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding with complimentary feeding thereafter up to 24 months and beyond.
The strategy is based on the Innocenti declaration adopted in 1990 during an international meeting in Italy. One of the recommendations is that countries should put in place a national breastfeeding committee with the appointment of a national coordinator by the ministry of health.
With the frame work of the strategy, the ten steps to successfully breastfeeding is implemented, the international code is implemented, mothers and children are protected. The global strategy added more targets to the innocent declaration.
The Director of UniNutri Services insisted on the fact that exclusive breastfeeding should be recommended to mothers with complimentary feeding after six months to prevent malnutrition. Countries throughout the world are adopting national legislation she emphasized, adding that when WHO and the world Health Assembly (WHA) improves on policies, countries are required to also up grade their national policy with the involvement of all stake holders. According to the IBFAN Africa consultant, nutrition promotion goes with breastfeeding, which occupies 60 per cent on the agenda. For this reason, the government should create a national breastfeeding committee and appoint a national coordinator as recommended by the WHA and WHO.

IYCF Problems
• Many governments believe that breastfeeding is natural and that mothers should automatically breastfeed their children. This is a wrong perception of the issue, because even when the act is natural, the mothers have to be supported. In most cases, it is the man who purchases formula for the baby and not the mother. Fathers should be educated as well on the advantages of breastmilk through the creation of support groups throughout the country.
• Breastfeeding and HIV are not understood. Policy makers need to be informed on the advantages of breastfeeding and WHO recommendation. Data needs to be collected, because it is through the analysis of the data that decisions are made during discussion at meetings.
• Since all countries have endorsed the WHA/WHO policies and resolutions, countries just simply need to implement them, especially as malnutrition of infants has been rated as a public health concern.

What is WBTi ?
The World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) started in Asia. Before the WBTi, countries were using the WHO IYCF monitoring and evaluation tool and the GLOPAR WABA tool. The new WBTi, is a combination of the WHO and GLOPAR tools to fill gaps which were identified in the previous tools. Many countries are already using the WBTi because it is a simple tool to track progress on the implementation of the Global Strategy. It helps for comparing progress in the different countries, considering the fact that all countries have been requested to monitor the progress of child survival regularly.
The trainer of trainers session organised in Cameroon by the regional coordination of the International Baby Food Action network (IBFAN Africa) is expected to help the government to discover gaps in health investment programme activities.
This will promote best practices; improve on child survival and maternal survival. The WHO tool was simplified by combining GLOPAR from WABA to build the WBTi tool. It works by collecting secondary data and analysing it to come out with the trends.
After the analysis of the data, trends are then used for making decisions to fill the gaps. This helps countries and governments to fill gaps in health investment, programmes and activities. WBTi brings people together to discuss results, since the trends demonstrate achievements and gaps to improve on Infant and Young child feeding.

Breastfeeding and HIV
WHO and WHA recommend AFASS. AFASS stands for the following:
A = Accessibility
F= Feasibilty
A= Affordibilty
S= Sustainability
S= Safety
The above is used for counselling mothers to make well informed choices as far as the nutrition of their children is concerned.
WORK IN GROUPS
The work in groups aimed at verifying the 15 IYCF key indicators used for evaluating countries with the WBTi tool. Within this frame work, the trainers were separated in three different groups and the indicators shared amongst for verification and scoring of Cameroon. Cameroon scored 81/150 by WHO rating analysis standards and this is equivalent to 54 per cent using WBTi tool.

Core Persons & Partners
The WBTi trainers identified core persons and partners who will pilot the initiative in Cameroon and by consensus vote, it was decided that IBFAN Cameroon should coordinate WBTi in Cameroon under the supervision of its national coordinator as team leader.
The WBTi Cameroon core persons identified are: James Achanyi-Fontem (Cameroon Link), Okala Georges (MOH), Tata Japhet (MOH), Mibe Samuel(MOH), Yvonne Bekeny (IBFAN Cam), Florine Nseumi (IBFAN Cam), Annette Efeti (IBFAN Cam)
The WBTI Partners are: WHO, UNICEF, WABA, IBFAN, Plan International, Helen Keller Foundation, Cameroon Link, ACTHU, CAMNAFAW, Fine Forest Foundation, Vine Yard Cameroon, COGESID and Maleo Sante Plus.
Before closing the training of trainers session in Douala, a WBTi action plan with tasks to be accomplished covering the period from November 2009 to March 2010 was put in place. The tasks included preparing a national work plan for collection of WBTi information and writing of a report that will highlight all the 15 indicators used for monitoring and evaluation.
The report needs to be presented to the government (Ministry of Public Health) and a wider audience for validation by November 30. The final WBTi Report on Cameroon will be communicated to IBFAN Africa Regional Coordination by December 15 and the regional coordination of IBFAN Africa will channel will share the report with others in Africa before channelling to IBFAN Asia by December 15 ahead of the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

WABA’s GBPM Farewell Party 2008

BUILDING BRIDGES DURING RELAXATION
By Lakshmi Menon
WABA organised a farewell party for all GBPM participants on the last day of the meeting at WABA office. Participants were ferried by bus to WABA office in torrential rain, which had erupted suddenly. Fortunately the strongly erected shamiana in the house compound, provided a good shield against the rain. Guests, including friends and well wishers of WABA, were shown around the office and invited to have the delicious Penang food. We were also treated to Penang’s famous hawker food, prepared by efficient chefs while we waited; some worth mentioning included, unforgettable Laksa (a rather strong noodle soup with fish and prawn paste, onions and pineapple pieces), Char Koey Teao (flat rice noodles fried with shrimps, chicken, eggs, greens and cockles), Ice Kachang (a fabulous dessert with a mix of ice shavings, syrups, beans, nuts, jelly topped with ice cream).
A huge cake in the shape of number 80 to mark Michael Latham’s 80th birthday was brought out to be cut by him. The felicitation of Michael for his contribution to WABA and to the breastfeeding movement touched us all, and quite a few of us were also in awe of Michael’s achievements. And so there was more food, rich food!!! The celebrations continued at another level – the cultural level, even as people could not resist the irresistible food.
Earlier in the day, Audrey Naylor had called for a cultural event “WABA has Talent”.
None of us could have imagined during the past few hectic days of fierce discussions, that there was so much hidden talent amongst us. What we witnessed made us wonder at the creativity and talent which was displayed, which also had us laughing, with many of us in splits.
Clowning around: Two clowns emerged on the scene complete with painted smiles and red noses. Audrey and Sarah hopped about and frisked around making people laugh (and also cry, when tears poured out during hysterical laughter). They handed out colourful waving hands (made of cardboard) so we could “aye” or “nay” when called upon for our opinion of a particular performance.
Judging talent: Judges were appointed to judge the talented. Felicity, Mahmuda Fazal, Nand and Nozipo were nominated judges. Each one gave her/his opinion after each presentation and asked the opinion of the audience. The audience was not in the least reticent. They lustily cheered every actor and waved the colourful hands heartily after every performance.
Songs by little ones and oldies: First, Julianna’s children -10-year-old Shanelle and 7-year-old Shane sang a charming duet. Dr Raj Anand shared his experience with his young patients in his clinic and how he sang to them to dispel their fears and doubts.
The Gender-sensitive Play: Amal and Lakshmi organised a 3-act play on gender sensitiveness. The first scene was at the gynecologist’s when the loving husband and timid wife (played by Marcos Arana and Sita Letchumi) visited a gynecologist (played by Patti Rundal -) for a routine check up. The Dr spoke to the husband about his wife’s condition as if she did not exist. The wife’s attempts to clarify her doubts were brushed away by the solicitous husband who felt she would not understand what the doctor said. The second scene was in the home of a dominating man (played by Dr Prashant Gangal) and his not so timid wife (played by Ali McLaine). The husband was telling his pregnant wife to stop working and take care of their little son and the home, and of course the new born when it arrived. The woman refused to quit her job and said she would be able to cope if he gave up hanging out with his friends or playing cricket on weekends and spent more time in the house, sharing housework and childcare. The third scene was in the factory, where a worker was telling her boss that she was pregnant and wanted information about her maternity entitlements. The boss pointed out that at the time of hiring; she had said she would not be having children. When the worker demanded her rights, the boss offered her two months leave as a favour and instructed her not to inform other workers. The role play was unusual because of reverse roles assumed - Ines Fernandes played the bully boss and James Achanyi took the role of the pregnant female worker (I specify female as even males get pregnant these days). The performance by all actors was simply brilliant.
The Great Canadian Ice Hockey: The Canadian GBPM participants (Betty, Carole, Elaine, Johanna, Lucie & Lucie and Penny) presented us with a game of ice hockey. The two teams were the Canadians representing the Code, WBW and partners such as ILCA, WABA, IBFAN, the Global Strategy against the team representing Multinational companies (MNCs) - Nestle, Gerber, Avent etc. Each player on the MNCs team represented one of these companies. The strategy was to use the key players of those fighting for implementation of the Code and the different WHA resolutions on the side of Canada and the MNCs were all those violating the Code. The referee was meant to be the neutral “United Nations” but there were comments about whether they had been influenced by the multinationals, and finally the refree was selected from a “neutral” country, Egypt. The team used hockey sticks and a puck (a metal disc). The group used hockey terms such as Nestlé getting the first penalty for high sticking and giving the Canadians a penalty shot.  The key player for the penalty shot was the IYCF resolution WHA 61.20 and they scored just before the end of the first half.  At the beginning of the second half, the MNCs brought in their big guys and we saw "follow-up milks" and "RUTF's" on the ice.  The Canadians used their best player "INFACT CANADA" and got a break away to score again and give Canada the win over the multinationals. The game moved at such terrific speed that the spectators were at their wits ended not being able to follow the game. It hardly mattered because it was such fun that we all laughed till we developed a stitch in our sides. It was much later when I tried to find out more about show that I found many of the players themselves had little inkling. Finally managed to get the full details from Carole. How about a WABA Ice Hockey League for the 3rd Global Forum?? Those interested should sign up for the teams and start practising before the final game at Quebec in 2010.
The Drums of Africa: the grand finale was of course the drummers from Africa. James and Nomajoni drummed in accompaniment to the throbbing African music. Fellow Africans, Veronica, Lourdes, Amanda, Joyce and Margaret swung their massive hips to the music and swayed rhythmically. The music was so mesmerizing that it brought everyone to their floor as they all fell under the spell of the music. Who after all could resist such fabulous rhythmic music? Michael Latham, who has his roots in Tanzania, was the first to spring to his feet and he too swayed his slight hips while Felicity joined in the dance. Susan, Ali, and others who were energetically inclined too entered into the fray - by now the dance floor resembled and sounded more like a war zone as the dancers scampered about with whoops of joy. As the night advanced the tempo of the drums increased, so also probably the neighbours’ temper.
We may have been to many such parties in the past, but this one will surely linger in our minds for monthsand years on end. It was so memorable that this time, the GBPM Farewell party had to be documented.

2009 World Breastfeeding Week

Great Outreach In Cameroon
By James Achanyi-Fontem, E-mail: camlink99@gmail.com
Outreach during the World Breastfeeding Week, WBW, in Cameroon was in millions as the Minister of Public Health, Andre Mama Fouda, invited men, fathers, and communities to support lactating mothers to accomplish their noble task of breastfeeding babies exclusively for the first six months after birth.
For the first time, the launching of the World Breastfeeding Week was launched out of the nation’s capital of Yaoundé, especially as the event in Obala tied with the theme “Breastfeeding – A Vital Emergency Response: Are We Ready?”.
Minister Andre Mama Fouda thanked his colleagues of the government cabinet , representatives of UN Agencies and the Infant and Young Child Feeding NGOs that turned out to support his ministry with their presence during the mass community event in in Obala.
Cameroon was joining the international community for the 18th time to celebrate wbw, the minister observed, and especially as it was another way of supporting government’s policy in matters of mother and child care. The over 400 mothers and first-time mothers of Obala listened attentively to the minister’s advice and cheered as pertinent infringements to breastfeeding were unmasked.
Minister Andre Mama Fouda sent special kudos to the Federation of Cameroon Breastfeeding Promotion Associations, FECABPA, for the many achievements and determination to support fathers, mothers and communities in the promotion of infant and young feeding action in Cameroon.
He lauded the constant financial and material support of UN agencies and international organisations to the Cameroon government for the promotion of mother and child care, and other health programmes. UNICEF Cameroon received special words of thanks for funding the launching event in Obala.
Minister Mama Fouda said, the celebration creates an opportunity to present a balance sheet of the year’s achievements on the path of breastfeeding promotion in Cameroon, and to expand the sensitisation of mothers, first-time mothers, communities and especially health workers on the importance of breastfeeding for the survival of infants.
He echoed that the theme of the celebration this year invites everybody to prepare for emergencies. In the context of Cameroon, efforts are made to supply portable water to communities as a means of avoiding disasters caused by diseases.
The minister told mothers that breastfeeding is indispensable for the growth and well being of the child. Milk and the love of a mother cannot be replaced, he went on. He condemned those who think that it is possible to produce a substance equivalent to breastmilk. Some companies manufacture breastmilk substitute and equate it with breastmilk, Minister Mama Fouda told the large audience present. The minister emphasized, that it is impossible to realize the companies' dreams and breastmilk will remain superior to formula always.Breastmilk is God's gift to humanity.
He testified that their mother breastfed them and they entirely support mothers of today to breastfed their babies exclusively as their mother did. He added that breastmilk is natural and the best for babies because it contains protective elements that cannot be fabricated by the industries.
Formula should be used only in the real cases where the mother would have suffered from an infection and is sick, the minister advised. On attachment, he told mothers in Obala that breastfeeding encourages bonding between the mother and the child. Bonding accelerates growth of the baby, he emphasized.
He revealed that children breastfed never forget their mothers and remain attached even when they become adults. For this reason, mothers should not deprive their children of the above mentioned advantages of breastmilk. While formula needs preparation, breastmilk is ready at all moments. He invited mothers to breastfeed their babies on demand, because the natural milk has no cost.
Addressing teen mothers, the minister said, breastfeeding makes a woman to look more beautiful and their partners, families and communities have to create favourable environment for the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding in Cameroon.
During the official launching, members of the Federation of Cameroon Breastfeeding Promotion Associations, FECABPA, mounted a giant exhibition in the public ceremony place and Minister Andre Mama Fouda visited the stands and received some up dated WABA information folders, as he was accompanied by his colleagues of the government cabinet and top UN representatives of agencies based in Yaounde, capital of Cameroon.
For more information, click on the following link or copy and paste on your browser- www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org

Speech on 2009 WBW Launching in Cameroon

Mot du Président de la Fédération des Associations de Soutien à l’Allaitement Maternel au Cameroun, Monsieur James Achanyi-Fontem, à l’occasion du lancement de la SMAM au Cameroun.
Obala, le 6 août 2009

Monsieur le Ministre de la Santé Publique,
Honorables invités
Mesdames, Messieurs,
C’est un honneur pour moi de prendre la parole ici à Obala au nom de la Fédération des Associations de Soutien à l’Allaitement Maternel au Cameroun, en ce jour mémorable à l’occasion de la cérémonie officielle marquant la célébration de la dix huitième Edition de la Semaine Mondiale de l’Allaitement Maternel.
Ce jour nous offre une grande opportunité de mobilisation des populations pour les activités de protection, promotion et soutien de l’Allaitement Maternel.
Excellence, Monsieur le Ministre, notre Fédération a été fondée le 14 septembre 2007 dans le but de soutenir le Ministère de la Santé Publique dans ses missions de promotion, de protection et soutien de l’allaitement maternel auprès des formations sanitaires et des communautés. La vision de FECABPA est de permettre à tous les enfants et leurs mères d’être en bonne santé et de protéger leurs droits.
Monsieur le Ministre de la Santé Publique, il y a deux ans, quatre de nos Associations avaient bénéficié de l’appui de votre Département Ministériel à titre de soutien en matériel. L’année dernière, vous avez permis à 30 de nos membres, de bénéficier d’un renforcement de capacités ici même à OBALA en matière de stratégie de mobilisation, information et éducation des populations. Cette formation nous permet actuellement d’être plus opérationnels et convaincants sur le terrain.
Je voudrais profiter de cette circonstance solennelle, pour vous exprimer notre profonde gratitude pour toutes ces marques d’encouragement à notre endroit.
Permettez moi, Excellence, Monsieur le Ministre, d’exprimer un certain nombre de doléances, qui pourraient rendre notre action beaucoup plus efficace et nous permettre d’atteindre un nombre plus important de personnes dans les communautés du Cameroun.
Il s’agit notamment de :
la mise à notre disposition de matériel éducatif et de mobilisation sociale ;
l’organisation au profit de nos membres, d’autres sessions de formation en allaitement maternel et sur les stratégies de monitoring du code national de commercialisation des substituts du lait maternel signé par le Premier Ministre le 1 er Décembre 2005.
Les formations sur les stratégies de Monitoring du Code National vont accentuer la protection, la promotion et le soutien de l’allaitement maternel; et en même temps amener le Cameroun à se qualifier pour la certification d’un Hôpital Ami des Bébés ou l’initiative d’un Communauté Ami des Bébés par l’OMS/UNICEF. Je suis sûre que le monitoring va aussi augmenter le pourcentage des taux d’allaitement maternel exclusive de 24 % à 35% avant la fin de 2010.
L’encadrement permanent sur le terrain par des équipes de votre département ministériel à titre de supervision ;
La relance de l’appui financier et logistique engagée il y a deux ans ;
His Excellency, after the evaluation of activities of the World Breastfeeding Week in September 2008 by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, WABA, Cameroon Link Health Development NGO thrillingly won the Gold Medal of the Marathon events competition. Some 198 NGOs in 120 countries went in for the competition and Cameroon won the Gold Medal, which I am happy to present to you here officially in Obala.
With this, His Excellency, we plead that the ministry of public health, which you head and UNICEF Cameroon should support the participation of some active Infant and Young Child Feeding organisations in Cameroon to attend and participate in the WABA Global Forum 3 scheduled in Quebec, Canada in June 2010.
His Excellency, the Minister of Public health, FECABPA finally recommends that the government should urgently put in place a National Code Monitoring Committee, that would suggest punitive measures including business closure, suspension of license or financial penalty for damages caused due to illegal market competition by any company violators of the existing national code. FECABPA suggests that sanctions be included as part of the existing Cameroon National Code on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes to strengthen its well formulated articles and encourage effective monitoring strategies that would enforce its application at all levels.
These are the few issues that we happily use this opportunity to call the attention of the government to, during this year’s World Breastfeeding Week 2009.
Excellence, nous vous assurons notre étroite collaboration dans le but d’atteindre ensemble les Objectifs du Millénaire du Développement en ce qui concerne la survie de l’enfant et la santé des mères.
Nous remercions, OMS, UNICEF, WABA, IBFAN, Helen Kelly International, Plan International et tous les autres qui continuent de nous aider dans la promotion de la nutrition infantile au Cameroun.
Je vous remercie pour votre aimable attention.

BREASTFEEDING FATHERS’ SUPPORT IN FINLAND

By Yvonne Bekeny in Finland
Breastfeeding in general and exclusive breastfeeding in particular has been a natural practice in Finland for several years. The importance of breastfeeding is emphasized by health care staff, and families benefit a lot from this practice because of the welfare services provided by the state in addition to the gender sensitive approaches to child care. A look at two generations of parents in Finland reveals that like in most western countries, breastfeeding was not an issue or “fashioned as being sexy” some 25 years ago. I interviewed parents of two different generations in Finland to learn about how breastfeeding evolved and how fathers supported the mothers who breastfed.
Liisa is 53 years old and breastfed her two grown up children.
“Breastfeeding was not common and was not strongly supported by the health personnel 25 years ago. I breastfed my children because I felt that it was natural and I did that exclusively for six months before introducing liquids and soft food. I had so much milk that I extracted and donated to the hospital because milk banks in Finland generated income for women who gave some of their breastmilk to the hospitals to assist working mothers or others who had problems breastfeeding their babies. Hospitals made it easier by having health personnel go around from home to home to collect the milk for their first food banks. During the periods I breastfed our babies, my husband was totally supportive and helped me with house chores and carrying the baby sometimes so I can rest. He learnt how to change the diapers at night and assist me too with this task. Indeed, it was just a total agreement between my partner and me to have the children breastfed and to do it well”.
Sirpa is 53 years old and nurtured her two grown up children now aged 33 and 25.
Sirpa said, in her case, breastfeeding was very much a mothers business and her personal decision because it was not emphasized in their days like today. In her words, “To me, it was a burden because I did not get any support from my husband.” It was a religious and legalistic burden on women because the state and the church did not provide any kind of support to women in those days. The state and religious organisation considered that it was the right of the child, that a mother should breastfeed her baby. Many did not see how men could be associated to the task of breastfeed.
Annette is 23 years old and a first-time mother. Her baby is two years old already
“I did exclusive breastfeeding for four months before introducing water and supplementary food. However, I continued mixed feeding until our son was 11 months old. My husband was extremely supportive. He did the house chores and this permitted me to have enough time to breastfeed. My partner took the baby and padded him after breastfeeding and this help as father attachment to the baby. He gave me a lot of psychological support and I think most of my friends get that kind of support from their partners too”.
Matti is a 24 year-old first-time father and husband of is Annette
Matti during the conversation with Yvonne gave the reason why he supported Annette. “I supported Annette because I thought that our baby will benefit a lot from breastfeeding. I would give her pillows during the process for her to seat comfortably. I helped to make the place comfortable for her so that both mother and baby were in comfortable positions during the process. I used to get food for her because I knew that she needed to eat well to be able to breastfeed well too. I generally took care of her and made life easy for her. I tried to give her all the psychological support because it was tough for both of us. I did the house chores so she could have much time to rest”. This kept us closer in the interest of our baby boy.
Jessica is 25 year- old mother of two children aged 7 and 6 years already.
Jessica got her babies when “Breastfeeding was already quite common. “My husband was very helpful and did the house tasks, changing the babies’ diapers at night. Unfortunately, I had some allergies, so I could not practise exclusive breastfeeding completely. For this reason, my husband and I decided to introduce other foods quite early enough for the baby not to loss weight and my partner helped in preparing food for the babies too”.
Tiina is 31 years old has 3 children who are aged 7, 6 and 3.
The first two babies of Tiina were born with a difference of just one year. In Tiina’s words, “I got very good support from my husband although he didn’t stay up at night to help change the diapers. I used to have much milk and donated some to the hospital. My partner helped me in doing the extraction and because of his total support, we were able to breastfeed all three children exclusively for 1 year each before continuing with mixed feeding. Our first baby was breastfed for 14 months, the second for 20 months and the third for 29 months and this was thanks to the support I got from their father”.
The above interviews were conducted on Sunday, 3rd of May, 2009

WABA-FIAN GENDER TRAINING WORKSHOP

By James Achanyi-Fontem,
Coordinator-WABA Men’s Initiative
Email: camlink99@gmail.com
The 5th annual WABA-FIAN joint gender training workshop ended in New Delhi, India on 9th July 2009. The training was delivered by two experts in gender promotion strategies from India and Malaysia, Renu Khanna and Paul Sinnappan with the coordination of leader- icon brains of the two international networks, Sarah Amin, Co-Director of WABA and Flavio Valente, Secretary General of FIAN.
The joint training workshop aimed at enabling some 29 advocates from the breastfeeding and food rights networks to raise awareness and sensitivity on gender issues. Resource persons for lectures and conducting exchange sessions focused on the gender challenges to breastfeeding and food rights issues. WABA and IBFAN Africa supported 12 persons involved in the breastfeeding protection, promotion and support movement in their regions.
On the first day of the international workshop, the principal trainer, Renu Khana, invited the participants’ patience because the workshop was not going to get into the intricacies of gender and theory due to the short period accorded for the transfer of knowledge. She added that 30% of the course at the beginning was dedicated to getting participants know themselves as this is vital for planting the seeds of gender. That is why a welcome dinner was programmed on the evening of the workshop first day on July 6.
On the second day, the participants exploited the application of gender in all aspects of their work. This included what gender meant for the breastfeeding movement as initiated and promoted by WABA. Towards the end of the training, working with men was introduced as a special aspect with relevance to gender promotion.
To introduce the participants into the core of the issue, Renu Khanna, Paul Sinnappan and Flavio Valente led the selected human right activists to focusing on gender in the larger context that takes into consideration the situation of the environment, cultures, political and socio-economic reflections. To achieve this, gender analysis was done in line with the right to food and gender mainstreaming. Before the end of the course, participants were guided on how to apply the ideas exchanged within the four days in the conception of a plan of action.
Two strategic plans of action were conceived that cover activities in the areas of gender and breastfeeding with gender to the rights to food. To better understand the issue of gender, Renu Khanna talked about what it is and what it is not. This was better understood when the attitudes of the male and female were described considering their natural and structural build ups.
The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, WABA and the Food First Information and Action Network, FIAN, expected the participants to be well sensitized on the concept of gender and gender mainstreaming, after equipping them with tools and skills of gender analysis by the end of the course. The course participants should be able to enable others in their respective regions and countries in the development of gender analysis of breastfeeding and rights to adequate food after the training in their respective regions and countries now.
Participants returned with resource materials for the application of gender concepts and the development of gender sensitive strategies and work plans. Within the context of the training, participants learnt about how to differentiate between sex and gender, recall dimensions of gender as a system enumerate and list gender aspects of breastfeeding and rights to adequate food. The men and women were able to list men’s role and responsibilities in appropriate infant feeding and promotion of rights to adequate food by the end of the training.
Issues treated within the period of the workshop included gender and sex, gender as a system, gender aspects of breastfeeding and rights to adequate food, gender analysis frameworks, economic and political contexts of women, men’s involvement, role and responsibilities, gender mainstreaming and gender indicators. The participatory training methodologies included exercises, games, group discussions and presentations, role plays, experience sharing by participants and others.
Renu Khanna has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the faculty of management studies from Delhi University, India with over 25 years of experience in health care management and organizational development in health.
Paul Sinnappan has for the past 10 years been involved in conducting gender training for men in the credit unions, cooperatives, micro credit programmes and non-governmental organizations, NGOs, in Malaysia and South East Asia.
The joint WABA-FIAN gender training workshop initiative began several years back in 2004 with the introduction of gender concerns by the donor agency, the Canadian Cooperative Association, CCA. Since then, the International Cooperative Association, ICA; the Asian Confederation of Credit Unions, ACCU, and the Asian Women in Cooperative Development Forum, AWCF have become partners in the process of integrating gender in cooperatives in Asia and Pacific region.
Other impact resource persons for the training were Flavio Valente of FIAN International from Heldelberg, Germany and Laskshmi Menon from the Association for consumers’ Action on Safety and Health Centre, ACASH, in Mumbai, India. Lakshmi is a consultant to WABA and was also the former co-coordinator of WABA’s Gender Working Group.
WABA’s gender programme goals include:
1.The promotion of gender awareness among breastfeeding advocates and mainstreaming of the gender perspective in breastfeeding advocacy and programmes.
2.The promotion of collaboration between the breastfeeding movement and the women’s movement, in order to strengthen the common advocacy goals of both movements; and to undertake joint advocacy, education and training on women’s rights, health and breastfeeding.
3.To increase participation of men in domestic work, child care and provide breastfeeding support, to raise men’s awareness on women’s rights and reproductive health issues.
For more information, click on the following link - www.waba.org.my or www.fian.org