• Promote implementation of the Global Strategy of Infant and Young Child Feeding (GSIYCF) at the national and regional level.
• Develop clear national and regional plans through a systematic process.
• Launch and promote a 'tool' to monitor the status and progress of GSIYCF implementation in practices, policies and programs.
• Learn skills to advocate, develop and implement national and local action plans.
• Promote stronger involvement of health professionals.
• Showcase success stories from the region, particularly the Indian case study on code implementation.
• Share information on key issues.
• Energize the breastfeeding movement.

On the first day of APCON, Margot Mann and Hitesh Bakshi presented sessions on clinical issues as well as the path to becoming an IBCLC. This was followed by an "Ask the Specialists" session. There was a lot of interest in becoming an IBCLC and in joining ILCA. Access to the Journal of Human Lactation was of great interest. Twenty copies of JHL were distributed to interested participants. These were not enough for all who wanted them and ten more were sent out after the conference. The need and hunger for more in-depth clinical expertise and training was evident.

This meeting presented an excellent opportunity to network with leaders in breastfeeding advocacy, education and policy making at local, national, regional and international levels. Most participants had not heard of ILCA and seemed to think that lactation consultancy was not relevant to poor countries. After our session, there was interest in having an IBCLE exam in India, as well as a recognition of the relevance of this profession to India and other areas of the region.

Here are just a few memorable observations from these meetings:

• Both meetings were opened and closed by Indian Government ministers who stressed the national importance of the conference objectives and the vital role of the Non Government Organizations (NGOs).
• Indian national breastfeeding legislation supportive of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes is an exciting model that other countries can emulate.
• Breastfeeding Committee of India (BPNI) is well-organized and extends across India. Their primary foci seem to be implementation of the International Code and the GSIYCF, lactation education for health professionals, and promotion of exclusive breastfeeding.
• BPNI co-founder, Dr. Sobti, has acted on his dream to provide lactation education to physicians with short courses through the Indian Medical Association. Those who complete these courses are given the title, "Lactation Consultant" -a potential source of confusion once IBCLCs are available. The depth of lactation training is quite different to that of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants. He and one of his instructors were interested in alternative titles that give local credibility to facilitate doctors. This issue was shared with the Pacific Regional IBLCE Office.
• Dr. Sutapa Bandyopathyay, a senior pediatric resident, studies traditional practices which prevent or delay the initiation of breastfeeding. For example, one group 'tests' breast milk safety by placing an ant in expressed milk. If the ant dies, the milk is considered toxic and unsuitable for the infant! The alternative is often buffalo milk and poor health outcomes.
• One elderly lady pediatrician, reported that when a mother dies of AIDS she tells the grandmother caring for the infant to put the baby to breast for comfort. Some of these grandmothers have fully relactated for their grandbabies without the use of chemical galactagogues.
• Another participant, a professor of Indian-English literature, reported that her sick, month-old twins' lives were saved by instructions to switch from formula to exclusive breastfeeding. That was 22 years ago and she remains an ardent breastfeeding advocate today.
• The networking at this meeting was outstanding. It crossed all national, cultural and organizational boundaries. UNICEF Staff worked diligently, presenting a multitude of sessions as well as facilitating the achievement of the meeting objectives. The ceaseless efforts of Drs. Miriam Labbok and Ted Greiner inspired many to return home with a sense of "can do" to create better conditions for the implementation of the GSIYCF.

I thank you for your support in this mission to share the view and mission of ILCA to the Asia Pacific in general and to India in particular.

Respectfully submitted by Margot Mann, Director for External Affairs.