INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING (IYCF)

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The first two years of a child's life are the most significant for ensuring good growth, health and behavioural development. For this reason, optimal feeding of infants and young children during this period is crucial.

Maternal nutrition benefits not only the child, but also safeguards the mother's health. Improved awareness around these key issues is needed to combat the high levels of child morbidity and mortality in South Africa.

Zoë-Life has recognised the importance of educating people about the role of nutrition and breastfeeding in the survival of infants and young children. Through our Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) programme, we capacitate healthcare workers in relaying this information to parents and caregivers at community level. Our aim is to empower people with the knowledge to make more informed infant feeding choices, and with the skills to apply their chosen practice in the best ways possible.
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In 2010, Zoë-Life was invited by the KwaZulu-Natal government's Nutrition Directorate to conduct a unique training module on Infant and Young Child Feeding for provincial health counsellors, nurses and trainers. Funded by UNICEF, this is the first such training offered anywhere in the world that provides comprehensive capacity-building based on the World Health Organization's 2010 IYCF guidelines. Incorporating the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health's 2010 guidelines on Infant and Young Child Feeding in the context of HIV, this programme emphasises the many benefits of taking ARV medication during the breastfeeding period.

 
Nomfundo Khabela, who provides technical support on nutrition for Zoë-Life and who leads the KZN DoH IYCF training project, is passionate about this cause:

" It is unacceptable that 60% of South African children under five years are undernourished. Poor nutrition is killing our children. With proper education of parents and caregivers, we can see the number of infant deaths decrease dramatically."
The three-day IYCF programme covers:
  • Balancing HIV prevention with protection against other causes of child mortality;
  • Informing mothers known to be HIV-infected about infant feeding alternatives;
  • Providing special support services to all mothers for appropriate infant feeding, and
  • Avoiding the harmful effects of inappropriate infant feeding practices in the general population.

The 16 modules in this course present scientifically sound information to address topics such as the reasons for death in children, the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and how it works, child nutrition in the context of HIV, and related counselling processes.
For a more detailed outline, please take a look at our Course Catalogue.

Our IYCF training efforts to assist government in reducing child mortality rates constitute an investment in a sustainable future for South Africa.


 
Zoë-Life's work is strengthened by the enthusiasm of our staff members. While each one is driven by our common sense of purpose, they hold a personal vision for their project:

" I hope I live to see the day when the mortality rate of South Africa's infants and children under five is reduced to that of first world countries." - Nomfundo Khabela, registered Nutritionist."

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