From policy to practice: Challenges in infant feeding in emergencies during the Balkan crisis

The preparation and dissemination of policy statements are necessary but in sufficient 20 prevent the inappropriate use of infant-feeding products in e mergencies. The widespread failure of humanitarian agencies operating in th e Balkan crisis to act in accordance with international policies and recomm endations provides a recent example of the failure to translate infant-feed ing policies into practice. This article explores the underlying reasons be hind the failures which include: (1) the weak insitutionalisation of polici es; (2) the massive quantities of unsolicited donations of infant feeding p roducts, (3) the absence of monitoring systems; (4) inadequate co-ordinatio n mechanisms; (5) the high costs of correcting mistakes, and (6) the cumula tive effects of poor practice. Efforts to uphold best practice during the c risis are also documented. Finally the article identifies actions that coul d be undertaken in advance of and during future emergencies to enhance the application of infant feeding policies in emergencies.