Staff Report :
UNICEF and DBL group on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote and improve breastfeeding practices in the workplace through the Breast Feeding in the Workplace Initiative (BFWI).
The project will be implemented at selected garment factory sites of DBL group. The collaboration with DBL Group will reach around 4,767 female workers, 340 pregnant and lactating women, and at least 340 infants and young children over a three-year timeframe.
This initiative has been funded through the generous support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
UNICEF and its partners will provide technical assistance, including improving awareness of all actors; capacity strengthening of female welfare officers and health service providers (doctors and nurses) on breastfeeding and breastfeeding support as well as counselling on infant and young child feeding for workers.
A research institution will also support the initiative with an evaluation of programme implementation to assess the situation on breastfeeding support and practices in selected garment factories.
According to the Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey 2014, only one in two infants aged 0-6 months in Bangladesh is exclusively breastfed. This needs to be improved.
The World Health Organization recommends that all infants less than six months should be exclusively breastfed.
MA Quader, Deputy Managing Director, DBL, said: “By providing practical example of how the private sector can take a rights-based, child-focused approach for their workers.”
He said this project will demonstrate that children’s and workers’ rights and well-being of all children can be effectively integrated and applied across business operations and create a win -win situation for all.
“Children are central to society and development. They are the future consumers, employees and business leaders. Gains achieved by investments in children far exceed those in other areas,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Representative.
UNICEF and DBL group on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote and improve breastfeeding practices in the workplace through the Breast Feeding in the Workplace Initiative (BFWI).
The project will be implemented at selected garment factory sites of DBL group. The collaboration with DBL Group will reach around 4,767 female workers, 340 pregnant and lactating women, and at least 340 infants and young children over a three-year timeframe.
This initiative has been funded through the generous support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
UNICEF and its partners will provide technical assistance, including improving awareness of all actors; capacity strengthening of female welfare officers and health service providers (doctors and nurses) on breastfeeding and breastfeeding support as well as counselling on infant and young child feeding for workers.
A research institution will also support the initiative with an evaluation of programme implementation to assess the situation on breastfeeding support and practices in selected garment factories.
According to the Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey 2014, only one in two infants aged 0-6 months in Bangladesh is exclusively breastfed. This needs to be improved.
The World Health Organization recommends that all infants less than six months should be exclusively breastfed.
MA Quader, Deputy Managing Director, DBL, said: “By providing practical example of how the private sector can take a rights-based, child-focused approach for their workers.”
He said this project will demonstrate that children’s and workers’ rights and well-being of all children can be effectively integrated and applied across business operations and create a win -win situation for all.
“Children are central to society and development. They are the future consumers, employees and business leaders. Gains achieved by investments in children far exceed those in other areas,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Representative.
