Every facility providing maternity services and care for newborn infants should:

Step 1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.

Step 2. Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.

Step 3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.

Step 4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within an hour of birth.

Step 5. Show mothers how to breastfeed, and how to maintain lactation even if they are separated from their infants.

Step 6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.

Step 7. Practice rooming-in-allow mothers and infants to remain together-24 hours a day.

Step 8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.

Step 9. Give no artificial teats/pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants.

Step 10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.

Step 11. Comply with the Food Safety (Marketing of Infant and Young Child Foods) Regulations Code.

Step 12. Provide Mother-friendly Care.

Step 13. Support Infant Feeding in the Context of HIV.

Step 14. Ensure that all new born babies delivered in Health Facilities or clinics receive step BCG and Polio “O” vaccine before discharge.

Step 15. Ensure that all mothers who deliver in Health Facilities or clinics receive 200,000 IU of Vitamin A Capsule before discharge.

Step 16. Issue a correctly filled in Child Health Card for each new born to the mother before discharge from the maternity ward. Provide Mother-friendly Care.