On May 24, 2019, the promotion of the public welfare program of “Happy Family, Early 1,000 Days ‘Health Action for Mothers and Infants’ - ‘Baby Care 1+1’ Maternal and Infant Nutrition Plan” organized by China Children and Teenagers’ Fund (CCTF) and Mead Johnson Nutrition (China) Co., Ltd. Was held in Beijing. Chen Xiurong, former vice president of the All-China Women’s Federation, secretary of the secretariat and vice president of CCTF attended the meeting. Participating leaders launched the program together.

General secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in a collective conversation with the new leadership of the All-China Women’s Federation that “Women’s Federations can play a role in popularizing healthy life, optimizing health services and building a healthy environment.” “We should actively promote the popularization of knowledge on scientific child-rearing, health care and other aspects in poor areas”, pointing out the direction to better serve children, families and overall situation for the implementation of “Baby Care 1+1 ” public welfare program. The program will collect the love of the whole society and benefit more pregnant families by compiling and distributing propaganda and education manuals for the general public, organizing professional training for grass-roots medical staff, and carrying out health education for the families of pregnant women.

Zhu Xisheng, secretary general of CCTF, said that to pay attention to maternal and infant nutrition and health is of great and far-reaching significance for improving the quality of China’s population and building a healthy environment in China. CCTF will continue to implement the program through the transparent, standardized and efficient services. It is hoped that the implementation of the "Baby Care 1+1" public welfare plan can effectively promote maternal and infant health and provide the best start for children in their lives.

Enda Ryan, CEO of Reckitt Benckiser Health Group China, said it is Mead Johnson’s responsibility to work with CCTF to improve maternal and children health in China and deliver on its long-term commitment to care for maternal and children health in China. At the same time, it is hoped that Mead Johnson’s efforts can solve the confusion of new mothers and help improve the nutritional health of children.

“The First 1,000 Days of Life” is defined by the WHO as a “Window of Opportunity” for a person’s growth and development, from conception to the age of two. Li guanghui, deputy director of perinatal medicine department and director of perinatal endocrinology and metabolism department of Beijing maternity hospital affiliated to capital medical university, explained the importance of the first 1,000 days of life, as well as the current nutritional health status and breast-feeding rate of pregnant women in China. “The problem of child growth retardation caused by malnutrition among pregnant women and children in poor areas in central and western China cannot be ignored. To seize the important key period of ‘1,000 days in the early life’ and give interventions, especially nutritional interventions, can lay a good foundation for lifelong health.”

Mead Johnson Nutrition (China) Co., Ltd. Donated 10 million yuuan to the program of “Happy Family, Early 1,000 Days ‘Health Action for Mothers and Infants’ - ‘Baby Care 1+1’ Maternal and Infant Nutrition Plan”. The donation will be received in three years, and 3.5 million yuan will be allocated for the early stage of the program in 2019.

Chen Xiurong, former vice president of the All-China Women’s Federation, secretary of the secretariat and vice president of CCTF, accepted donations on behalf of CCTF

In the activity, Chen Xiurong accepted the donation on behalf of CCTF and presented the donation certificate to the enterprise. The leaders attending the meeting jointly launched the program and presented the appointment letters to 10 expert representatives.

After the meeting, more than 150 lecturers from various maternity schools of Beijing Maternal and Child System jointly participated in the first training for teachers of maternity schools. In the future, they will serve as the messengers of love of the program, spreading the care of the Party and the country and the nutrition knowledge of mothers and infants for 1000 days to pregnancy and newborn families more accurately.

Liu Xiaoping, director of the program office, Li Changning, director of China Health Education Center,  as well as well-known experts in different fields of pregnancy nutrition, pregnancy health care, newborn care, volunteers and media representatives, as well as expectant mothers, new mothers and children, about 200 people attended the activity on that day.