Only 10% Haryana women breast-feed

More and more lactating mothers in Haryana are ‘shying away’ from breast-feeding their infants. As per a survey conducted by the state government,only 18 out of 100 mothers breastfeed the infants within an hour of the birth,while overall only 10 per cent lactating mothers continue with the practice.

The survey blames social taboos,cultural barriers,women going out to work in the fields and lack of proper support from health care system as reasons for the low breastfeeding rate. It also cites marketing techniques used by the baby food manufacturing companies as one of the reasons.

Now,in order to generate awareness among the women,the state government will launch a week-long campaign,beginning August 1,Health Minister,Rao Narender Singh said.

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“The World Breast Feeding Week to be celebrated from August 1 to 7 will have ‘Taking Stock of Policies and Programmes-Babies Need Mom-Made not Man Made’ as its theme,” he added.

“There is a need to bust the myth that man-made stuff is good for infants. Breast milk provides the children the best possible start to life and immunity against infections,” Singh said.