Exclusive breastfeeding can save 22.3% infant deaths

1-7 August 2010: World Breastfeeding Week
Statistics state that 270,000 infants born in Uttar Pradesh (UP) die in the first month of their birth and every sixth malnutrition child lives in UP. "The grim situation of infant mortality and child malnutrition can be changed overnight if every pregnant woman in the state ensure that her newborn gets mother's milk in the first hour of birth," said Dr KP Kushwaha. A paediatrician and a great advocate of breastfeeding, Dr Kushwaha, Head of the Department of Paediatrics, BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur, was addressing media persons at the monthly Media for Children hosted jointly by Media Nest and UNICEF at the Uttar Pradesh Press Club on every second Saturday afternoon. Read more



Dr Kushwaha said that malnutrition will drastically bring down the GDP and will add to 50 per cent death of infants. He bemoaned the facts that social customs and psychological mindset prevents a mother from breastfeeding her child immediately after his birth.

"It is sad, but true that only 46.4 per cent of mother's do exclusive breastfeeding. The other 53.6 per cent do not even realize the great harm they are doing to their child, society and country," said Dr Kushwaha who has passionately pursued his mission to ensure a healthier society through mother’s following the baby friendly health initiative.

Through audio visual medium he explained the correct methods of breastfeeding. Dr Kushwaha said that though it is said repeatedly that breastfeeding is a natural instinct of all mothers the truth is that it is a technique that must be taught to a woman and for this trained counselors are essential.

Dr Kushwaha illustrated this information with the work he and his team have done in Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh. He said that the baby friendly health initiative (BFHI) in just one a half year of initiating this project in 600 villages the percentage of mothers who exclusively breastfed their child was raised from a mere 6.6 per cent to 50 per cent.

In the same way the percentage of mother's who initiated breastfeeding within an hour rose from 10.9 per cent in November 2006 to 72 per cent in April 2008.

Listing the USD 80,000 billion dollars infant food market as one of the main hurdles that confronts the practice of mother’s milk Dr Kushwaha said that there are laws against infant foods' availability and their open advertisements but the money involved is so huge that often these laws remain just on paper.
Speaking on the occasion Mr Augustine Veliath, communication specialist of UNICEF said that Dr Kushwaha is the rarest of rare doctor who has through his devotion to the cause helped save millions of children.

"His behavioral change in infant feeding pattern has received great response not just in India but also abroad. Dr Kushwaha is today an authority on the issue and his 'best practice experiments' are being used all over the world," said Mr Veliath.

In her vote of thanks, senior journalist and secretary general of Media Nest, Kulsum Talha, thanked Dr Kushwaha for raising awareness of the media persons on this issue, helping build their capacity, which is the motive of the programme.

The programme was conducted by senior journalist Durgesh Narain Shukla.

Kulsum Mustafa
(The author is a senior journalist and secretary of Media Nest) 


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In Emergencies, Breastfeeding Is A Lifeline - World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August) -

In Emergencies, Breastfeeding Is A Lifeline
- World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August) -

Emergencies can happen anywhere in the world. Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to malnutrition, illness, and death in these situations. Emergencies whether caused by conflict or natural disasters are extraordinary events that can jeopardize the health and survival of large populations. Children are among the most vulnerable groups during emergencies, and small children are the most vulnerable of all, as they face a triple risk of death from diarrhoeal disease, pneumonia and undernutrition. Whatever the emergency, the story is the same: breastfeeding is a lifeline and a shield that protects infants in emergencies.

From 1-7 August 2009, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), and breastfeeding advocates in more than 150 countries worldwide are celebrating World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) for the 18th year. This year, WABA teams up with the Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN) and the International Baby Food Action Network- Geneva Infant Feeding Association (IBFAN-GIFA) who represent an international collaboration of United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations (IFE Core Group) concerned with protection and support of safe and appropriate infant and young child feeding in emergencies.

"Together we call for the active protection and support of breastfeeding during emergencies and the prevention and refusal of donations of breast-milk substitutes, bottles and teats that, too often, do more harm than good" said Dr Arun Gupta, Regional Coordinator, International Baby Food Action Network(IBFAN) Asia. Dr Gupta is also a member of the Indian Prime Minister's Council on India's Nutrition Challenges.

"When an emergency strikes, simple measures can make all the difference in the world. Emergency preparedness is the key to quick appropriate actions. Mothers need to be secure and have priority access to food for the family, water, shelter and safe places to breastfeed" adds Dr Gupta.

The life-saving role of breastfeeding during emergencies is firmly supported by evidence and guidance. The Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding outlines actions to improve infant and young child feeding in emergencies. In all situations, the best way of preventing malnutrition and mortality among infants and young children is to ensure that they start breastfeeding within one hour of birth, breastfeed exclusively (with no food or liquid other than breast milk, not even water) until six months of age and continue breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods up to two years or beyond. Even in emergency situations, the aim should be to create and sustain an environment that encourages frequent breastfeeding for children up to at least two years of age.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF recommendations - early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age and continued breastfeeding for two years or beyond - are even more critical in emergencies. Breastfeeding is the one safe and secure source of food and fluid for infants - instantly available, providing active protection against illness and keeping an infant warm and close to his/her mother. It also reduces the risk of post-partum haemorrhage in the mother, the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. In the challenging and risky environment of an emergency, how infants are fed is key to their survival.

"Protecting breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding from inappropriate marketing influences is an essential component of emergency interventions" cautions Dr Gupta. Violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent relevant WHA Resolutions are frequent. International guidance developed by the IFE Group clearly states that donations of breast-milk substitutes, bottles and teats should not be sought nor accepted in emergencies.

In Emergencies, Breastfeeding Is A Lifeline - World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August) -

In Emergencies, Breastfeeding Is A Lifeline
- World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August) -

Emergencies can happen anywhere in the world. Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to malnutrition, illness, and death in these situations. Emergencies whether caused by conflict or natural disasters are extraordinary events that can jeopardize the health and survival of large populations. Children are among the most vulnerable groups during emergencies, and small children are the most vulnerable of all, as they face a triple risk of death from diarrhoeal disease, pneumonia and undernutrition. Whatever the emergency, the story is the same: breastfeeding is a lifeline and a shield that protects infants in emergencies.

From 1-7 August 2009, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), and breastfeeding advocates in more than 150 countries worldwide are celebrating World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) for the 18th year. This year, WABA teams up with the Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN) and the International Baby Food Action Network- Geneva Infant Feeding Association (IBFAN-GIFA) who represent an international collaboration of United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations (IFE Core Group) concerned with protection and support of safe and appropriate infant and young child feeding in emergencies.

"Together we call for the active protection and support of breastfeeding during emergencies and the prevention and refusal of donations of breast-milk substitutes, bottles and teats that, too often, do more harm than good" said Dr Arun Gupta, Regional Coordinator, International Baby Food Action Network(IBFAN) Asia. Dr Gupta is also a member of the Indian Prime Minister's Council on India's Nutrition Challenges.

"When an emergency strikes, simple measures can make all the difference in the world. Emergency preparedness is the key to quick appropriate actions. Mothers need to be secure and have priority access to food for the family, water, shelter and safe places to breastfeed" adds Dr Gupta.

The life-saving role of breastfeeding during emergencies is firmly supported by evidence and guidance. The Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding outlines actions to improve infant and young child feeding in emergencies. In all situations, the best way of preventing malnutrition and mortality among infants and young children is to ensure that they start breastfeeding within one hour of birth, breastfeed exclusively (with no food or liquid other than breast milk, not even water) until six months of age and continue breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods up to two years or beyond. Even in emergency situations, the aim should be to create and sustain an environment that encourages frequent breastfeeding for children up to at least two years of age.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF recommendations - early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age and continued breastfeeding for two years or beyond - are even more critical in emergencies. Breastfeeding is the one safe and secure source of food and fluid for infants - instantly available, providing active protection against illness and keeping an infant warm and close to his/her mother. It also reduces the risk of post-partum haemorrhage in the mother, the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. In the challenging and risky environment of an emergency, how infants are fed is key to their survival.

"Protecting breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding from inappropriate marketing influences is an essential component of emergency interventions" cautions Dr Gupta. Violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent relevant WHA Resolutions are frequent. International guidance developed by the IFE Group clearly states that donations of breast-milk substitutes, bottles and teats should not be sought nor accepted in emergencies.