Breastfeeding can reduce infant mortality: Shangpliang

SHILLONG: Director of Social Welfare HM Shangpliang said on Tuesday breastfeeding can reduce infant mortality to a great extent.
Shangpliang, who was speaking at the inaugural function of the breastfeeding week, also emphasised on the health problems of pregnant and lactating mothers and said it is the duty of the field workers to ensure that proper nutrition and sufficient supplement food is given to mothers so that problems of breastfeeding do not occur.
“Breastfeeding can reduce infant mortality to a great extent and it is necessary for mothers to get timely support and healthcare education,” he said.
Stating that breastfeeding by mothers for their babies in the first six months is important to get the incredible health benefits, at the same time, he lamented that in recent times, most mothers are not keen to breastfeed their babies due to personal reasons.
He reiterated that mothers should understand the health benefits of their children as breast milk is the most nutritious feed for infants.
According to Shangpliang, health education can bring permanent changes in the social living and ultimately healthy and disease-free living.
Shangpliang said the objective of the celebration is to allow health workers, including CDPOs and lady supervisors, to understand the ground reality of health and welfare of mothers and infants and provide the support to them.
He urged the field workers to go to their respective places of work and chalk out programmes and activities.
N Munish Singh, Regional Director, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs, said breastfeeding is nature’s gift and it is mandatory for mothers to breastfeed their infants as it can provide necessary energy and nutrition.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development, Community Food and Nutrition Extension Unit in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare kick-started the celebration with a one-day state-level symposium and the theme for this year’s celebration is sustaining breastfeeding together.