Rethinking How We Build Capacity for Skilled Lactation Support - Plenary 5

Speaker(s): Larry Grummer-Strawn, PhD, MPA, MA

Access to skilled lactation support is a core priority for supporting breastfeeding throughout the world. However, the number of specialists in lactation care is extremely limited and front-line health workers typically receive very limited training on breastfeeding. Key problems with the current models for capacity building include unclear role delineation, dependence on in-service training courses, lack of assessment of competencies, and competition from the formula industry. New approaches for capacity building in a cost-effective and sustainable way are needed. This talk will discuss directions being promoted by WHO and UNICEF through the revised model for BFHI, guidance on breastfeeding counselling, training courses, a model chapter on IYCF for medical textbooks and a new breastfeeding competency verification toolkit.