Human milk bank (HMB) services are an essential component of a breastfeeding-friendly health system. HMB services give at-risk infants, such as those born pre-term or low birthweight, access to the multiple benefits of breastmilk when they need it most.

The first six months of life are critical for child health and development. Breastmilk provides all the nutrients infants need during this period, supporting brain development and reducing the risk of infection and malnutrition.

In India, from 2015–2020, A&T is providing technical support to accelerate coverage of effective MIYCN interventions at national and state levels.

Despite recent improvements in maternal and child health, death rates for children under 5 remain high. Efforts must be made to attain the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals for health and hunger.

This technical brief highlights key factors that influence newborn nutritional outcomes and the evidence-based practices that can be applied globally to support optimal infant nutrition within the first 28 days.

Nigeria has recently made progress toward strengthening policies and programs in support of maternal, infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN). However, progress has been limited to specific states—and creating strong plans for implementation of new policies remains a challenge.