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{
    "id": 319540,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/319540/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 328,
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    "content": "on the other hand are one of the world’s major problems and a serious obstacle to social and economic development. Members are also aware that breastfeeding has multiple advantages hence it is imperative to ensure that every child gets the right to breastfeed unless where there is loss of mother, medical indications or other reasons. Exclusive breastfeeding maybe the best option for HIV Positive women in resource poor settings and saves an estimated 1.5 million infants every year. Breastfeeding also benefits the society by strengthening family ties and saves time and money hence providing overall economic benefits. In addition, industrially processed complementary foods should not be marketed or promoted as ideal and suitable complements to breast milk as this would be contrary to the national nutritional policy which recommends use of available indigenous foods. Breast milk substitutes and complementary foods will still be used on the advice of a health worker or through the decision of the child caregiver or mother. However, the Bill seeks to ensure that this decision is not unduly influenced by aggressive promotion or marketing of specific products. It is important to note that the Bill does not prohibit the manufacture or sell of breast milk substitutes, designated products or complementary foods, but only seeks to regulate the promotion and marketing of these products due to their health implications. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, my Ministry is mandated to ensure fulfillment and protection of children’s rights to health, survival and development. This includes initiating legislation of instruments proven to be effective to achieve this, including those resulting from international resolutions. Kenya is a member state of the United Nations system of which the World Health Organization (WHO) is the arm that advises and guides member states on the policies that affect health. The WHO also acts as the secretariat during the World Health Assembly (WHA) where health resolutions are passed by member states. The member states formulate the WHA resolutions and are bound to implement the signed resolutions. The International Code of Marketing of Breast Bilk Substitutes and subsequently related resolutions constitute part of the health policy and guidance emanating from the WHA. The code and subsequent relevant WHA resolutions aim at protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding and appropriate infant and young child feeding practices. Since the adoption of the Code in 1981 to date, 103 member states have instituted statutory regulations. Nine have regulations in draft that solely rely on voluntary compliance by the infant formula manufactures and 25 have not taken action. Kenya is one of the countries whose regulations are in draft and currently relies on voluntary compliance by infant formula manufacturers. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is the United Nation (UN) arm that is mandated to ensure protection and fulfillment of children’s rights. Available data from UNICEF reveals significant correlation between the level of code implementation and breastfeeding rates. For example, countries with stringent code legislations have the highest level of exclusive breastfeeding rates while those countries with weaker ones have lower levels of exclusive breastfeeding rates. The enactment of this Bill will be an implementation of the resolutions that Kenya has endorsed at the WHA as a member state of the United Nations. It is expected to contribute to further increase of breastfeeding rates which stood at 32 per cent in 2008 having increased from 13 per cent in 2003."
}