In Africa, there is a growing awareness that strategies must be identified and tested that can lead to the highest possible infant survival rate in the face of the risk of postnatal HIV transmission. In 1997 UNAIDS, WHO and UNICEF changed their policy on HIV and infant feeding, and issued guidelines for implementing this new policy a year later. Whereas previously countries where most infant mortality was due to infection and malnutrition were advised to promote breastfeeding irrespective of the mother's HIV status, the new policy called for individual counselling on the advantages and disadvantages of breastfeeding vs. artificial feeding that would enable mothers to make an informed choice. UNICEF provided free formula at a number of pilot sites.