Breastfeeding is first vaccine that protects both mother and child : Dr Vardhan

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi  : “Breastfeeding should not be seen as an issue that concerns only women and mothers. Let’s make the breastfeeding a shared societal responsibility where not only the mother but all in her family, community and also at work place are considerate and support the feeding mother by creating an enabling environment,.”  stated Union Health & Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan at a function to mark the World Breastfeeding Week-2019 here on August 8, 2019. Even the theme of this year of World Breastfeeding Week is ‘to empower parents, enable breastfeeding: now and for the future’, he added.

The Union Health Minister also released a Report Card on Breastfeeding & Infant & Child Feeding Practices with data from the State and UTs, along with new communication material in the presence of Ashwini Kumar Choubey, MoS (HFW), and Preeti Sudan, Secretary (HFW), senior officers of MoHFW, and representatives of various Development Partner agencies.

Dr Vardhan stated that breastfeeding is the most cost effective intervention that addresses the survive and thrive agenda of child health. It is the first vaccine that protects both the mother and child. Studies have highlighted how 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; whereas exclusive breastfeeding for six months significantly reduces episodes of diarrhoea and pneumonia in infants and children,” he said.

Dr Vardhan stated that the activities advocating benefits of breastfeeding should not be limited to only a week in August. “The activities around breastfeeding should be sustained throughout the year and therefore Health Ministry will be carrying out activities to promote breastfeeding by creating awareness about its multi-fold benefits from 1^st to 7^th of every month till 2022,” he stressed.

The Union Health Minister further said that the Health Ministry is giving highest importance to this intervention and is already supporting the States in implementing a nationwide programme named – ‘MAA’ (Mothers’ Absolute Affection). “This involves a comprehensive set of activities on promotion and support of breastfeeding at community and facility levels, through building an enabling environment. Reinforcing lactation support services at public health facilities through trained healthcare providers and awareness generation activities at community level are also being focused,” Dr Vardhan elaborated, according to a PIB release.