[Recommendations for a multisectorial national policy to promote breastfeeding in Mexico: position of the National Academy of Medicine]. / Recomendaciones para una política nacional de promoción de la lactancia materna en México: postura de la Academia Nacional de Medicina.

Evidence strongly supports that to improve breastfeeding practices it is needed to strengthen actions of promotion, protection and support. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to establish a multisectoral national policy that includes elements such as design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs and policies, funding research, advocacy to develop political willingness, and the promotion of breastfeeding from the national to municipal level, all coordinated by a central level. It is until now that Mexico has initiated a reform process to the establish a National Strategy for Breastfeeding Action. This strategy, is the result not only of the consistent scientific evidence on clear and strong benefits of breastfeeding on population health and the development of human capital, but also for the alarming data of deterioration of breastfeeding practices in the country. The comprehensive implementation of the National Strategy for Breastfeeding Action that includes the establishment of a national committee, intra- and inter-sectoral coordination of actions, setting clear goals and monitoring the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes, is the awaiting responsibility of the public health agenda of the country.

Recomendaciones para una política nacional de promoción de la lactancia materna en México: postura de la Academia Nacional de Medicina / Recommendations for a multisectorial national policy to promote breastfeeding in Mexico: position of the National Academy of Medicine

Resumen: Para mejorar las prácticas de lactancia materna es necesario fortalecer acciones de promoción, protección y apoyo, y establecer una política nacional multisectorial que incluya elementos indispensables de diseño, implementación, monitoreo y evaluación de programas y políticas públicas, financiamiento para acciones e investigación, desarrollo de abogacía y voluntad política, y promoción de la lactancia materna, todo coordinado por un nivel central. Recientemente, México ha iniciado un proceso de reformas conducentes a la conformación de una Estrategia Nacional de Lactancia Materna (ENLM). Esta estrategia es el resultado de la disponibilidad de evidencia científica sobre los beneficios de la lactancia materna en la salud de la población y el desarrollo de capital humano así como de los datos alarmantes de su deterioro. La implementación integral de una ENLM que incluya el establecimiento de un Comité Nacional Operativo, coordinación intra e intersectorial de acciones, establecimiento de metas claras, monitoreo y penalización de las violaciones al Código Internacional de Comercialización de Sucedáneos de la Leche Materna, y financiamiento de estas acciones es la gran responsabilidad pendiente de la agenda de salud pública del país.

Abstract: Evidence strongly supports that to improve breastfeeding practices it is needed to strengthen actions of promotion, protection and support. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to establish a multisectoral national policy that includes elements such as design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs and policies, funding research, advocacy to develop political willingness, and the promotion of breastfeeding from the national to municipal level, all coordinated by a central level. It is until now that Mexico has initiated a reform process to the establish a National Strategy for Breastfeeding Action. This strategy, is the result not only of the consistent scientific evidence on clear and strong benefits of breastfeeding on population health and the development of human capital, but also for the alarming data of deterioration of breastfeeding practices in the country. The comprehensive implementation of the National Strategy for Breastfeeding Action that includes the establishment of a national committee, intra- and inter-sectoral coordination of actions, setting clear goals and monitoring the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes, is the awaiting responsibility of the public health agenda of the country.