The purpose of the Love Converted into Food Law for the Promotion, Protection and Support of Breastfeeding is to promote, protect and support exclusive breastfeeding and timely and adequate complementary feeding of children under two years of age. This is done in order to guarantee their adequate growth and development, and to reduce infant mortality rates in the country.
The Law establishes a series of obligations for the State, employers, health facilities and society in general, in order to promote exclusive breastfeeding. Among them is the obligation to install breastfeeding rooms in all public and private institutions where they work or provide specialized care to women of childbearing age, pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Article 23 of the Law establishes that all public and private institutions and in general, any institution where they work or provide specialized care to women of childbearing age, pregnant women and nursing mothers must install and ensure their operation. This is so that nursing mothers who work in these institutions, as well as those who visit them, can breastfeed or express and preserve breast milk. In addition, the Ministry of Health must have a registry of authorized lactation rooms.
The Law also establishes that exclusive breastfeeding should be promoted and supported in all early childhood care institutions, including the Early Childhood Care Centers (CAPI) established by the Crecer Law, and in all public and private educational institutions in the country.
The Law establishes sanctions for those who fail to comply with their obligations, such as fines and closure of establishments, and establishes the creation of a National Breastfeeding Council, in charge of coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the Law throughout the country.
In summary, the Love Converted into Food Law for the Promotion, Protection and Support of Breastfeeding is an important tool to guarantee the adequate nutrition and development of children in El Salvador, and to promote a healthy and natural practice such as exclusive breastfeeding.
