Even in the Midst of Conflict, Breastfeeding is the Best
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has led to the inaccessibility of lifesaving nutrition services, made medical supplies and consumables unavailable due to the fear of looting along the way, and caused a scarcity of qualified Infant and Young Child feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) staff as they flee the conflict to safer areas. The conflict has resulted in one of the world’s largest current population movements, with many people becoming internally displaced persons (IDPs) or returnees who join the most vulnerable host communities in Sudan.
Responding to the urgent (IYCF-E) humanitarian needs arising from this crisis, World Vision, in partnership with several donors, has established breastfeeding corners in Blue Nile, South Kordofan, East Darfur, and South Darfur. These corners provide essential and free IYCF-E services to vulnerable host communities, returnees, and IDPs. In collaboration with the State Ministry of Health (SMOH) and Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), these corners aim to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding, as well as safe and appropriate infant and young child feeding practices, including exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, timely complementary feeding practices, and the early prevention of malnutrition.
Hawa Ibrahim, a returnee from South Sudan to Blue Nile, is currently based in the Ahmar Sidak area. Like other returnees, she faced challenges accessing nutrition care for herself and her 4-month-old baby.
"I visited the Ahmar Sidak PHU, which is run and supported by World Vision, with my 4-month-old baby Zahra, who was suffering from fever and diarrhea for three days,” said Hawa Ibrahim.
After meeting the doctor, Zahra was referred to the breastfeeding corner to receive breastfeeding counselling from the IYCF-E nutrition counsellor. There, she received support and guidance on the importance of breastfeeding and the need to continue breastfeeding until the child reaches 6 months of age. At the corner, she was provided with the necessary support and guidance on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months, where she is advised not to give the baby any food or drink other than breast milk.
“I can observe that Zahra's health status has improved according to my recent visit to the breastfeeding corner health center,” said Hawa Ibrahim.
The breastfeeding corners offer comprehensive IYCF-E services to the population in the catchment area. Pregnant and lactating women and girls who come to the corners are offered Counselling services in groups and individually. These corners have been established in IDP receiving centre to offer round-the-clock services to those in distress, ensuring their breastfeeding practices do not deteriorate. Furthermore, the integration of corner services into the adult and child safe spaces ensures they are also supported with these services.
Since January 2024, World Vision planned to establish 83 breastfeeding corners; however, due to access issues, only 29 corners have been reached, with 10 closing in the last three weeks. Of the currently operational corners, 12 are stationed in IDP operational sites, while 10 are in protection safe spaces, supporting 45 IYCF-E counselors to offer services. Although World Vision planned to reach 17,677 pregnant and lactating women and girls (PLWGs) through this intervention across Sudan, only 10,002 have been reached with services.
World Vision is partnering with several donors in Blue Nile, South Kordofan, East Darfur, and South Darfur to provide assistance to vulnerable local communities, returnees, and IDPs from other conflict-affected regions in Sudan. With this support from donors, World Vision has been able to contribute to Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All, providing services to those who need it the most.
World Vision Sudan is committed to continuing to provide accessible and high-quality (IYCF-E)care through the operation of breastfeeding corners, ensuring that vulnerable people receive the care they require during Sudan's crisis.