Good nutrition is essential during the first two years of life to ensure growth and healthy brain development. Data from an independent evaluation of Alive & Thrive revealed that over four years, exclusive breastfeeding for six months rose from 19 percent to 58 percent in Vietnam and from 48 percent to 86 percent in Bangladesh in program areas. Additionally, the percentage of children 6–23 months of age in Bangladesh who consumed a good-quality diet increased from 16 percent to 49 percent.
Scaling up an infant and young child nutrition package that promotes exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and optimal complementary feeding, in countries where most of the malnourished children reside, could save the lives of hundreds of thousands of infants every year. … Read more
Jean Baker, MPH
Project Director, Alive & Thrive
