Policy Guideline 1:
All mothers should be counselled and supported to initiate breastfeeding within an hour of delivery and to exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first 6 months of the infant’s life unless medically contra-indicated.
Policy Guideline 2:
Parents shall be counselled and supported to introduce adequate, safe and appropriately fed complementary foods at 6 months of the infant’s age while they continue breastfeeding for up to 2 years or beyond.
Policy Guideline 3:
Pregnant women and lactating mothers should be appropriately cared for and encouraged to consume adequate quantities of nutritious foods.
Policy Guideline 4:
4a) Health service providers should establish the HIV status of all pregnant women and lactating mothers.
4b) All pregnant women and lactating mothers should be encouraged to confidentially share their HIV status with service providers and key family members in order to get appropriate IYCF services.
Policy Guideline 5:
Exclusive breastfeeding should be recommended for infants of HIV infected women for the first 6 months of the infant’s life, irrespective of the infant’s HIV status, unless replacement feeding is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe (AFASS) for them and their infants before that time.
Policy Guideline 6:
Infants born to mothers living with HIV should be tested for HIV infection from 6 weeks of age, appropriate IYCF counselling given to the mother, based on her personal situation.
Policy Guideline 7:
Malnourished children should be provided with appropriate medical care, nutritional rehabilitation and follow-up.
Policy Guideline 8:
Mothers of infants who are born with low birth weight but can suckle should be encouraged to breastfeed, unless there is a medical contra-indication. Mothers of low birth weight infants who cannot suckle well shall be encouraged and assisted to express breast milk and to give it by cup, spoon or naso-gastric tube.
Policy Guideline 9:
Mothers, caretakers, and families should be counselled and supported to practice optimal IYCF in emergencies and other exceptionally difficult/special circumstances.