National Breastfeeding Association of East Timor

Klibur Susubeen Inan Nian ba Kosok Oan

The National Breastfeeding Association of East Timor aims to improve nutrition and the protect children from infection in East Timor through promotion of breastfeeding.

More than 2/3 of the 10.9 million under-5 child deaths in the world are often associated with inappropriate feeding practices and occur in the first year of the baby’s life. Although most women in Timor-Leste breastfeed their children, only 18% of children benefit from exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months and continued breastfeeding up to 2 years.

The NBFA (or KSBINKO) works with the Ministry of Health’s nutrition working group to provide information on the benefits of good breast-feeding practices and infant and young child feeding.  Alola's Mother Support Groups work in the community to give peer support counselling to nursing mothers.  The recent evaluation [see link] demonstrates that peer counselling is successful in behaviour change for women who would otherwise give other fluids or introduce other foods too early increasing the risk of diarrhea. After six months, the range of foods given to young children is often limited to rice and other foods with low nutritional content.

The NBFA is also training other local community volunteer groups in infant and young child feeding.  Health workers and volunteers from Caritas and OXFAM in Oecusse and Medicos de Mundos in Lospalos have received training.   These places are the in the extreme east and west of the country. OXFAM, CARITAS and Medicos, will be able to provide regular on-going support spreading the word further about the benefits of breastfeeding! 

The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative is a world wide phenomenon promoting hospital facilities to support good breastfeeding practices including immediate breastfeeding and ‘Skin to Skin care’ see link. http://www.who.int/making_pregnancy_safer/publications/standards/en/index.html
Two hospitals were accredited in 2005 and 2006.  These hospitals are now due for re-assessment and we hope progress to accredit another hospital in Oe-cusse by 2010. For more information on this initiative see, http://www.unicef.org/programme/breastfeeding/

Go to:

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

The Infant and Young Child Feeding Training in Timor-Leste

Health Seeking Behaviour Study

Maternity Packs

Mother’s Milk film used in communities

Suku Hadomi Inan no Oan - Village Loves its Mothers and Children

SHIO FILM

Research on maternal mortality in East Timor

Archival information - Programs introduced during 2006 crisis

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