The Infant and Young Child Feeding Training in Timor-Leste

Alola Foundation as a member of International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) Asia Pacific initiated The Infant and Young Child Feeding Training Course: The 3-in-1 course, an integrated training course on breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and infant feeding & HIV counseling in Timor-Leste from February 23rd to March 2nd by IYCF Course Director Prof. Dr. M. A. A. Faridi. This training has been developed by International Baby Food Action Network (Asia Pacific) and Breastfeeding Promotion Networking India (BPNI) to promote optimal infant and child feeding around the world. The training materials are in English and have been translated into Tetum, the East Timor National Language by Alola Foundation.

The opening ceremony of the training was attended by First Lady of Timor-Leste Mrs. Kirsty Sword Gusmao, a Representative of UNICEF Timor-Leste, Mrs. Shui-Meng Ng. and the Director of Dili National Hospital. They all agreed that the promotion of Infant and Young Child Feeding in Timor-Leste is crucial in order to address the poor nutritional status of young children here. Statistics indicate that 52% of child mortality in Timor-Leste is caused by malnutrition. The opening ceremony was also attended by members from Ministry of Health, UN Agencies, NGOs and also received coverage from local media in Timor-Leste.

As outcome of this training there are now 8 IYCF lead trainers and 16 IYCF counselor specialists available in Timor-Leste. They are gaining accreditation from IBFAN, Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO and Alola Foundation. We are expecting that there will be 8 IYCF resource persons in Timor-Leste to promote infant and young child feeding across the country.

Some participants in this IYCF training expressed they were a little frustrated after receiving this training because they were not able to practice appropriate feeding methods to children, including the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding because currently there is insufficient information regarding Infant and Young Child Feeding.  However the participant’s enthusiasm masked their frustration and they committed to contributing to  behavioral change in the practice of feeding infants in Timor-Leste.

This training was able to take place because of the collaboration between Alola Foundation and MoH  and with financial support by UNICEF, WHO and Liz Durr and individual donor from Australia.

Go to:

National Breastfeeding Association of East Timor (Klibur Susu Ben Inan Nian ba Kosok Oan)

Maternity Packs

Pakote Pensu – Washable and Useable sanitary napkins

Breastfeeding promotion in IDP camps and Communities during emergency

Suku Hadomi Inan no Oan - (desa siaga)

Research on maternal mortality in East Timor

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