Breastfeeding trends reveals dismal support to women

New Delhi, Dec 09: A report on breastfeeding trends in India has revealed a dismal state of support to women for breastfeeding and lack of will to invest "in the most effective intervention" to save lives of infants.

According to the report, India stands in yellow band in a grid of red, yellow, blue and green in ascending order of performance and has not improved too much as compared to the year 2005.

The India Report is an outcome of the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative launched in 51 countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America by the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) Asia to track and monitor policies and programmes to protect and support breastfeeding.

The report was released by Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar here on Tuesday.

It has found glaring gaps in both policy and programmes and has not found any improvement since 2005 when similar assessment was conducted.

At the function, Aiyar said the Panchayati Raj institutions could play a vital role in educating women about breastfeeding.

"The report highlights deficiencies in all areas that require action, justifying highly coordinated and budgeted activity for achieving optimal breastfeeding," he said.

Pediatrician and member of the Prime Minister's National Council on India's Nutrition Challenges Arun Gupta said the report provides the framework for action on nutrition beginning with the birth of a baby.

Bureau Report