The BFHI (Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative) is an effort by UNICEF and WHO to ensure that all maternities and hospitals become centers of breast feeding support.

A maternity facility can be designated ‘baby-friendly’ when it does not accept free or low-cost breast milk substitutes & has implemented the 10 specific steps to support successful breastfeeding.

Implementation guidelines for the BFHI have been developed by UNICEF and WHO.

The process is currently controlled by national breastfeeding authorities, using Global Criteria that can be applied to maternity care in every country.

Goals of the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative

1.To transform hospitals and maternity facilities through implementation of the “Ten steps”.

2.To end the practice of distribution of free and low-cost supplies of breast-milk substitutes to maternity wards and hospitals.

The number of designated baby-friendly hospitals world wide has grown through the years:

n   4,300 hospitals in 1995

n   8,000 hospitals in 1996

n  13,000  hospitals in1997

n   almost 20,000 hospitals by 2006

 EGYPT

•          BFHI started in 1992.

•          231 hospitals and Maternal & Child Health (MCH) centers were certified as baby-friendly facilities.

•          These health facilities were evaluated during the period 1995-1999.

•          Ministry of Health & Population is planning reactivation of the Initiative, which did not receive much attention in the past three years.

•          The BFHI has been recognized by MOH in most countries as an important strategy to promote the health of the child and the mother.

•          Since establishment of the initiative in early 1990s many Hospitals have shown regression in the implementation of the ten steps.

Recently revival of the initiative have been observed in many countries, and is expanding.