Goa: Breastfeeding decreasing rapidly

Panaji, Aug 2: Increased focus on consumer products has almost wiped out the most wanted breastfeeding habit among mothers in Goan society, bemoaned experts.

They were participating at a state level workshop, ''Breast Feeding: Mother's support-Going for the Gold'', organised as part of observing the World Breast Feeding Week-2008 by Porvorim-based Food and Nutrition Extension Unit here today.

Inaugurating the workshop, the state commission for women chairperson Dr Pramod Salgaocar said lack of the habit has resulted in increased number of breast cancer cases.

This could be reversed if the parents realised the significance of breast feeding to ensure best performance of the children as they grow, he said.

Assistant technical advisor of the institute Mr Suresh K N Gaonkar disclosed that lack of breastfeeding was the cause of children with underweight in Goa, where only 17 per cent of the kids had been breastfed.

This pernicious habit had also resulted in malnourishment and anaemia among both the mother and the child, requiring a suitable nutrition policy, he added.

In her keynote address, Dr Vaishali Joshi, assistant professor, department of paediatrics, Goa medical college, called for re-establishment of breast feeding culture in Goa, which remained very low in the tourist state.

UNI