Warm Chain of Support for Breastfeeding

The Warm Chain campaign places the mother-baby dyad at the core. It strives to link different actors across the health, community and workplace sectors to provide a continuum of care during the first 1000 days.

Identify your role in the warm chain and use our information cards to find out what you can do. Once you have identified your role, link up with other stakeholders in creating a warm chain in your country or community.

Evolution of the Campaign

Promoting supportive healthcare practices has always been a focus of WABA’s work. The Healthcare Practices Task Force, Research Task Force and Education & Training Working Group spearheaded this work especially in the area of capacity building. The Breastfeeding Advocacy and Practice (BAP) course and Wellstart Lactation Management Self-study Modules are examples of capacity building. Through the Mother Support Task Force and community initiatives, WABA has promoted the integration of health and community support. Since 2009, WABA promoted the Expanded Baby Friendly Initiative (EBFHI) launched by WHO/UNICEF and this  subsequently became the conceptual basis for WABA’s Warm Chain of Support for Breastfeeding

Objectives

PROTECT

the warm chain by developing strategies for collaboration and Conflict of Interest safeguards

PROMOTE

the warm chain approach and showcase good examples of linkages

SUPPORT

the warm chain by coordinating training, technical support and research to enhance knowledge and skills

Warm Chain Information Cards

Use the cards to work together with different stakeholders and coordinate efforts at all levels to care for the mother-baby dyad

Protect the Warm Chain

The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes was created to protect and promote breastfeeding by ensuring the proper use of breastmilk substitutes when these are necessary, and the ethical marketing practices related to breastmilk substitutes. To  reinvigorate and reinforce ongoing monitoring and periodic assessment of the Code and national laws, the Network for Global Monitoring and Support for Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and Subsequent relevant World Health Assembly Resolutions (NetCode) has developed a toolkit containing relevant protocols, guidance, and tools.
Together, we can protect the warm chain of support for breastfeeding.

Impact

Provides consistent and accurate messages with strong referral systems

Trains and links healthcare and community workers across the continuum of care

Creates a broad base of advocates for breastfeeding action at all levels

Facts and Figures