Today, the Minister of Health Development of the Republic of Somaliland, Xuseen Bashiir Xirsi, officially inaugurated a two-day validation meeting for the Breast Milk Substitute Feeding (BMS) Code.

Originally adopted by World Health Organization in 1981 and strongly supported by UNICEF, the BMS Code is designed to protect and promote breastfeeding practices while enhancing maternal and child health outcomes.

The validation meeting convened representatives from government ministries, professional associations, academic institutions, parliament, media organizations, and development partners to review and finalize this important framework.

ACRIF is proud to have provided technical support in the development of the BMS Code and facilitated the validation process as part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening nutrition governance and improving the wellbeing of mothers and children across Somaliland.

We sincerely appreciate the collaboration and dedication demonstrated by all participating government institutions, partners, and stakeholders — including World Health Organization, UNICEF, and World Food Programme — in advancing the finalization and future implementation of this vital code.