2019 – Posted in: Press Information Bureau

Breastfeeding & Infant & Child feeding Practices”

(Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)

WHAT

World breastfeeding week is observed every year from 01 to 07 August.

The theme of this year of World Breastfeeding Week is ‘to empower parents, enable breastfeeding: now and for the future’.

The Union Health Minister also released a Report Card on Breastfeeding & Infant & Child Feeding Practices with data from the State and Union Territories.

BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING

It is the first vaccine that protects both the mother and child.
Breastfeeding could prevent diseases and deaths in children and future breast and ovarian cancer in mothers.
Early initiation of breastfeeding within an hour of birth can prevent neonatal mortality.
Exclusive breastfeeding for six months significantly reduces episodes of diarrhoea and pneumonia in infants and children.
Every year more than 820000 children’s lives could be saved among children under 5 years if all children 0–23 months were optimally breastfed.
Breastfeeding improves IQ, school attendance and is also associated with higher income in adult life.

REPORT CARD

The Report Card released is based on the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) data.
The best performing States, as well as the best performing districts in each State, have been identified.
Low Performing State: Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar secured bottom positions.
Delhi is also among worst-performing States.
Manipur has topped the rankings.

REPORT CARD DEVELOPMENT

The breastfeeding report card has been developed by devising a composite score based on 3 indicators–

Early initiation of breastfeeding
Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months
Complimentary feeding at 6-8 months of child’s age

MAA- MOTHERS’ ABSOLUTE AFFECTION

Health ministry is supporting the States in implementing a nationwide programme named – ‘MAA’ (Mothers’ Absolute Affection).
It is an attempt to bring undiluted focus on the promotion of breastfeeding and the provision of counselling services for supporting breastfeeding through health systems.
The programme has been named ‘MAA’ to signify the support a lactating mother requires from family members and at health facilities to breastfeed successfully.

GOAL

The ‘MAA’ Programme is to revitalize efforts towards promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding practices through health systems to achieve higher breastfeeding rates.

OBJECTIVE

Build an enabling environment for breastfeeding through awareness generation activities, targeting pregnant and lactating mothers, family members and society in order to promote optimal breastfeeding practices.
To incentivize and recognize those health facilities that show high rates of breastfeeding along with processes in place for lactation management.
Reinforce lactation support services at public health facilities through trained healthcare providers and through skilled community health workers.

MAA- MOTHERS’ ABSOLUTE AFFECTION

IMPORTANT INFO

As per the Convention on the Rights of the Child, every infant and child has the right to good nutrition.
World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 1st 6 months and breastfeeding with home-made food for minimum of 2 years.
Undernutrition is associated with 45% of child deaths.
Nearly 40% of infants 0–6 months old are exclusively breastfed.
In 2016, 155 million children under 5 years of age were estimated to be stunted, 52 million were estimated to be wasted, and 41 million were overweight (or obese), globally.

Source: PIB

Also, read more PIB Updates

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