The Ministry of Women and Child Development has chalked out a programme to disseminate the advantages of breast feeding during the first week of August, declared as World Breastfeeding Week.
With 'breastfeeding support: close to mothers' being the theme for the year, the ministry intends to focus on important aspects of protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding.
In a communication to all states and union territories, the ministry has asked the officials of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) to emphasise the importance of breastfeeding and intensify the counselling of mothers by Anganwadi mothers during the antenatal period at institutional delivery points and during lactation.
States have also been asked to spread the awareness of breastfeeding through the health and child welfare schemes and seek the support of the NGOs, panchayati raj institutions, Food and Nutrition Board and community-based organisations to reach out to pregnant and lactating mothers.
The Ministry has prepared a suggestive plan of activities for the week which includes orientation by district and state officials of ICDS and NRHM to promote breastfeeding, orientation by NGOs and ICDS supervisors on Anganwadi workers role in breastfeeding promotion and sensitisation on discouraging mothers and caregivers from using commercial breast milk substitutes.
As per the Sample Registration System, 2011, the infant mortality rate stands at 44 per 1,000 live births and the maternal mortality rate is 212 per one lakh live births.
WHO also recommends exclusive breast-feeding for a new born up to 6 months of age.
