Improving complementary feeding practices through a comprehensive health systems strengthening approach: experiences from Egypt. (Special section on complementary feeding in emergencies.)

ABSTRACT

This article describes experiences of improving complementary feeding practices using a systems approach with particular focus on health systems strengthening. Achievements included the development of national guidelines for optimum complementary feeding for children 6-23 months of age, inclusion of a specific indicator for complementary feeding in the new National Food and Nutrition Strategy, updated training packages to improve health worker counselling skills and strengthened social behaviour change communication activities. A systems approach requires strong coordination between all partners across sectors to ensure communities benefit from the synergistic effects of complementary interventions, while system strengthening was noted to improve the resilience of the Ministry of Health and Population to withstand the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent Ukraine crisis.