From Assessment to Action: Implementing WBTi to Strengthen National Breastfeeding Policies
A webinar of the Global Breastfeeding Collective
Date: July 3, 2025
Time: 9:00–10:30 AM (New York)
We hosted a dynamic webinar designed to equip national stakeholders with the tools and strategies needed to implement the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) and turn assessment findings into real policy impact.
Since 2025, more than 100 countries had completed WBTi assessments. However, only 7% had conducted assessments in the past five years—despite strong evidence that regular use of WBTi is linked to improved breastfeeding outcomes.
During this webinar, participants:
- Gained a clear understanding of WBTi methodology
- Learned how to organize a multi-sectoral core group to lead national assessments
- Heard real-world lessons from The Gambia, Croatia, Bangladesh, and El Salvador on how they successfully used the WBTi to drive policy change
This webinar supported the GBC’s call for 75% of countries to conduct policy assessments by 2030 and helped participants turn data into action.
Let’s make breastfeeding policy measurable, actionable—and effective.
Available Languages
The recording includes interpretation in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian & Spanish.
Click below to learn more or express interest in WBTi
Moderator
Altrena Mukuria Ashe, Dr.P.H., IBCLC
Dr. Mukuria Ashe is a recently retired global health specialist with over 40 years’ experience in managing and providing strategic direction to public health programs in 50 countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. She has spent 20 years living and working in East Africa. Dr. Mukuria Ashe has served as Principal Investigator for over 20 studies in maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN). Dr. Mukuria Ashe’s expertise in nutrition includes the study and application of gender and culturally sensitive social and behavioral change methodologies to maternal nutrition, infant feeding (breastfeeding and complementary feeding), Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, and Growth Monitoring & Promotion. Dr. Mukuria Ashe is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) currently practicing with the Rumina Postpartum Wellness Center in Baltimore, Md.
Presenters
Dr. Laurence Grummer-Strawn
Dr. Laurence Grummer-Strawn is the unit head of the Food and Nutrition Actions in Health Systems unit at the World Health Organization. He coordinates WHO work on infant and young child nutrition, prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition, and prevention of micronutrient deficiencies. Until December 2014, he served as chief of the Nutrition Branch at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Having earned his PhD from Princeton University, he worked at CDC for over 23 years, in the areas of Reproductive Health and Nutrition. He is an epidemiologist who has published over 180 scientific publications. He is recognized internationally for his work on vitamin and mineral deficiencies, breastfeeding policy, and development of both the CDC and the WHO Growth Charts. He leads the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, the Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, and the Global Breastfeeding Collective.
Fatmata Fatima Sesay
Fatmata Fatima Sesay is a Nutrition Specialist, Infant Feeding with UNICEF HQ in New York. She manages the Infant Feeding portfolio and contributes to UNICEF’s global leadership in Early Childhood Nutrition. She has 18 years of experience in Maternal, Infant, and Young Child and Micronutrient Nutrition in both development and humanitarian settings. Fatmata holds an MSc in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a BSc, and an MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics from Njala University, Sierra Leone.
Dr. Arun Gupta
An accomplished public health advocate, Dr Arun Gupta, is a pediatrician known for championing breastfeeding, child nutrition, and responsible food policies. He founded the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) in 1991. Dr. Gupta conceptualized and created IBFAN’s World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) , a breakthrough tool to identify gaps in policy and programs on breastfeeding now operational in 100 countries. In 2001, the Dr. Gupta was named a Fellow of Indian Academy of Pediatrics. From 2010 to 2015, he was a Member of the PM’s Council on India’s Nutrition Challenges from 2010 to 2015.
Panelists
Mr. Bakary Jallow
Deputy Executive Director, National Nutrition Agency (NaNA)
Irena Zakarija-Grkovic
Dr. Irena Zakarija-Grković is the WBTi Regional Coordinator for Europe and a prominent breastfeeding advocate based in Croatia. She brings regional insights and technical expertise to support effective WBTi implementation across European countries.
Dr. S.K. Roy
Dr. S.K. Roy is the Chairperson of the Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF). A pioneer in public health nutrition in Bangladesh, he has led multiple national WBTi assessments and policy dialogues to advance breastfeeding promotion and support.
Ana Josefa Blanco Noyola
Ana Josefa Blanco Noyola is the Executive Director of CALMA (El Salvador). She confirmed her participation as a panelist and will share El Salvador’s country experience in using WBTi to strengthen breastfeeding policies and programs.