Breastfeeding: Practice and Policy Certificate Course (15th)

The Breastfeeding: Practice and Policy Certificate Course (Modules 1 and 2) is an intensive course held at the Centre for International Child Health (CICH), London in collaboration with WHO and UNICEF. This annual course (19th June - 14th July 2006) provides comprehensive scientific, technical and practical training on all aspects of breastfeeding, from birth to two years or beyond.

It is the only advanced level international training course on breastfeeding and related topics available worldwide.

The four week course is split into two 2-week modules:

• Module 1: Breastfeeding and Public Health: Essential Knowledge and Skills. 2 weeks, 19th-30th June 2006
• Module 2: Breastfeeding and Beyond: Addressing Challenges to Optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding. 2 weeks, 3rd-14th July 2006

Each module can be taken together, individually or over successive years, and as a certificate/ MSc.

The aim of the course is to develop participants' capacity to take an active role in protecting, promoting and facilitating optimal infant feeding practices.

The course is designed for doctors and other senior health professionals who are involved in national or local infant feeding programmes as clinicians, trainers, advisers, programme coordinators or advocates for optimal infant feeding. Teams from the same country are particularly welcome. The course is limited to 30 participants and is conducted in English. Usually more than 50% of participants are doctors.

Teaching methods

The course is intensive. Teaching includes lectures, seminars, role-play, group work, sessions with mothers and babies in the classroom, visits to health facilities and set assignments.

Fees and Application process

The course fee is £2,300 for the full 4 week Certificate course, £1,150 for a 2-week module. An additional £100-£150 is recommended for purchase of training resources. The Course has access to accommodation in nearby student residences, which costs around £30-35 per night.

Applicants without funding are advised to start seeking financial sponsorship immediately. The course does not have any scholarship or bursary schemes.

To apply, download an application form online and submit by email to bfeed@ich.ucl.ac.uk. Successful applicants are offered a provisional place on the course and provide a letter for approaching donors. Definite places are allocated on confirmation of funding.

Further details, and guidance on who to approach for funding can be found from the course orgainsers: The Breastfeeding Course, Centre for International Child Health, Institute of Child Health , 30 Guildford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK, Tel: +44 (0)20 7905 2122 Fax: +44 (0)20 7404 2062 email: bfeed@ich.ucl.ac.uk http://www.cich.ich.ucl.ac.uk/ CICH under courses.