Demand for recognising breastfeeding to curb infant mortality

New Delhi, Dec 29 (UNI) Expressing concern over high levels of infant mortality in India, several health professionals today called for recognising breastfeeding as a core intervention for ensuring survival and optimal development of infants and incorporating it in the 11th plan.

In a joint memorandum to Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the professionals and citizen movement organisations also sought adequate measures that could protect infants and young children from further deaths and ensure proper development for those who survived.

The memorandum also asked the Planning Commission to declare 'breastfeeding education' as a basic service equal to immunisation in both health and nutrition sectors, national coordinator of the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India Arun Gupta said.

The memorandum calls for recognising optimal infant and young child feeding in poverty reduction strategy papers and incorporate 0-6 months for exclusive breastfeeding in all programmes to ensure infants' basic right to food.

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