Lithuania presented its consolidated 3rd and 4th
periodic reports on the situation of the implementation of the Convention on
the Rights of the Child in the country. The consolidated 5th to 6th
periodic report is expected by November 2018.
The IBFAN alternative report of Lithuania was prepared by the Initiative group of
breastfeeding mothers and breastfeeding promoters of NGO "Pradžių pradžia" (IBFAN Lithuania). The report reflected the ‘Declaration on
Breastfeeding Support and Relate Issues in Lithuania’ which was addressed to
the highest authorities such as the Ministry of Health and Ministry of
Education of the Republic of Lithuania, and was also shared with all universities
and medical colleges and faculties of the country during the World
Breastfeeding Week in 2011.
The report shows that in Lithuania, executive health policy does not
direct any attention towards an integral programme on protection, support and
promotion of breastfeeding. Dissemination of evidence-unbased information and
misleading advertising is the key reason for refraining from breastfeeding or
choosing a comparatively short period of breastfeeding. Article 24 of the
Convention of the Rights of the Child is not appropriately respected and no
mechanisms exist for control of its implementation: a comparatively large
number of mothers continue refraining from or choose especially short periods
of breastfeeding[1].
Thus, responsible state bodies that do not take action to encourage mothers to
feed infants in a natural way, fail implementing public health strengthening
actions based on disease prevention, which results in increased personal health
care costs and sickness benefits. Currently, no substantial actions are taken
to upgrade breastfeeding-related qualifications of health care specialists.
Certain seminars on nutrition of infants and children for health care
specialists are supported and organized by companies distributing breastmilk
substitutes which violate the International
Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitute and resolutions. What is more,
accessibility to personal health care services for breastfeeding women is not
sufficiently communicated and organized. There are very few baby-friendly
hospitals and in other health care institutions, the quality of services is
very low or services that ensure successful breastfeeding are nonexistent.
Consequently, a birth-giving mother, limited by time and distance, cannot
freely choose a health care institution. Mothers and newborns experience
discrimination as they end up in a hospital without the BFHI status.
During the discussion between the government delegation and the CRC Committee, issues related to breastfeeding were not discussed.
Concluding Observations
We regret that the CRC Committee has
made no specific recommendation on infant and young child feeding to the
government of Lithuania in its Concluding observations.
In
par. 39 and 40 regarding health care and services, the Committee regretted the
decreasing budget allocations to maternal and child health care programmes. It
reminded Lithuania to pay attention to its General Comment no. 15
(2013), which insists on “the
right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of
health, and recommends that the State party take measures to increase its budget allocations for
maternal and child health programs. The
Committee also recommends that the State party ensure maternal care for women who choose to
deliver at home by providing access to emergency obstetric care, trained care
at delivery, and post partum care.”
[1] Statistical data of research made at Health authority of Lithuania
show that: just 30% of infant are breastfeed more than 0,5 year. For more see: http://www.tavovaikas.lt/kudikis/mityba-ir-sveikata/isaiskejo-kiek-sutaupo-seima-per-metus-maitinant-kudiki-krutimi.d?id=62015889
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