IBFAN Africa is part of a global network called IBFAN (the International Baby Food Action Network) a network of over 150 citizens groups in over 90 countries. (click here: www.ibfan.org)
IBFAN AFRICA
The IBFAN Africa network was founded in 1981, primarily to create effective changes in infant feeding practices, through networking and establishing working relationships with international agencies, governments and non-governmental and other organisations involved in Maternal, Women and Child Health (MWCH) and nutrition programmes to address concerns related to Code of marketing and breastfeeding. At first the programme was established as a project of the Geneva Infant Feeding Action Group (GIFA), which opened the first IBFAN Africa regional office in Nairobi. As a result of the evaluation of the Nairobi office in 1990, the office was relocated to Swaziland in May 1992, to have better access to the Southern Africa countries that were becoming newly independent.
Over the years, IBFAN activities in Africa expanded so that there were now two regional offices. The IBFAN Africa office serving the English and Portuguese speaking countries, located in Mbabane, Swaziland, and a sub-regional office for the French speaking countries, in Burkina Faso. The two offices are autonomous. This division is for communication purposes only as the intention is not to divide Africa by language. Countries served by IBFAN Africa include: English speaking: South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mauritius, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, and Nigeria Portuguese Speaking: Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, and Sao Tome and Principe.
MISSION Statement for IBFAN Africa
- To protect, support and promote breastfeeding and appropriate infant and young child feedng practices in order to ensure optimal infant nutrition and contribute to an overall reduction of infant morbidity and mortality.
- To achieve the full implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, and the subsequent relevant Resolutions of the World Health Assembly in all countries and to monitor their implementation.
Objectives:
- Raise awareness of the existence and need for the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes among health workers and policy makers, and advocate for the development, implementation and monitoring of national legislation on the Code and resolutions.
- Encourage community development in order to enable all women to breastfeed optimally.
- Provide support and resources to organisations and groups working on infant feeding and women's health.
- Assist governments in realising their responsibilities under the UN Conventions, including the Convention of the Rights of the Child, the CEDAW and the ILO as they relate to the right of women and children to optimal health and nutrition.
IBFAN Advisory Committee:
IBFAN Africa is advised by an Advisory Committee (IAAC) elected every three years by members from all countries of Africa in two regional meetings, French and Anglophone/Luphone. The current election of the IAAC took place in September 2000, and the names underlined are the elected members of the Advisory Committee:
| Dr.Charles Sagoe-Moses | Chairperson, from Ghana | gardcu@ighmail.com |
| Dr. Florence Nwazor | West Africa, from Nigeria | bcpg2000@yahoo.com |
| Dr. Dulce Gomes | Lusophone Africa, from Sao Tome Principe. | dulcegomes@cstlme.net |
| Mrs. Mary Materu | East Africa, from Tanzania. | marymateru@hotmail.com |
| Mrs. Lynn Moeng | Southern Africa, from South Africa | lmoeng@medunsa.ac.za |
| Mr. Magalela Ngweya | Local Advisor for the Regional Office, from Swaziland. |
IBFAN Africa Regional Office staff/ The Secretariat
IBFAN Africa regional office has seven full time staff, two part time consultants and one volunteer. The coordinating office works with 30 national coordinators of infant feeding and staff of over 40 IBFAN groups in 30 countries. Many of the staff of the coordinating groups work as volunteers.
Full Time staff of the regional office are:
| Mrs. Pauline Kisanga | Regional Coordinator | pkisanga@realnet.co.sz |
| Mr. Raynald Maseko | Administrator | rmaseko@realnet.co.sz |
| Mrs. Olinda Mugabe | Programme officer-Lusophone | olinda@realnet.co.sz |
| Ms. Busie Maphanga | Secretary | busi@realnet.co.sz |
| Ms. Nonkululeko Mdluli | Information Officer | ibfan@realnet.co.sz |
| Mrs. Phumzile Dlamini | Office Clerk | |
| Mrs. Grace Ndlangamandla | Support staff member |
Consultants:
Paula Brandberg
Marie Halissey
Vusi Dlamini
Volunteers:
Shabnam Minoosepehr
Contact Details
- Email:
- ibfanswd@realnet.co.sz
- ibfan.leko@realnet.co.sz
- ngwenya@mailfly.com
- csagoemoses@hotmail.com
- Tel:
- (+268) 404 5006
- Fax:
- (+268) 404 0546
- Postal Address
- IBFAN Africa
- P.O Box 781
- Mbabane
- Swaziland
- Physical Address
- IBFAN Africa
- Dlanubeka House
- Centrepoint, Ground Floor
- Corner of Tin & Walker Street
- Mbabane
- Swaziland
