The policy was jointly developed by NHM and WCD with technical support from the UNICEF
To ensure the protection and promotion of breastfeeding and sustain it, Rajasthan has released a state policy to reinforce early initiation of breastfeeding. In a state like Rajasthan, where the number of institutional deliveries has increased appreciably during the last 10 years but despite that, the rate of women breastfeeding within one hour of the birth is very low, experts are of the view that the policy, in many ways, is a renewed plan for more intensive work towards improving the current breastfeeding rate.
“It will help in providing an official framework to emphasise on the importance of early initiation of breast feeding as well as exclusive breast feeding which are the optimal benchmarks for infant and young child feeding,” said Minakshi Singh, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist.
In Rajasthan, according to National Family and Health Survey-4 (2015-16), institutional deliveries including public and private facilities are as high as 84 per cent but around 72 per cent children under the age of 3 years were not breast fed within one hour of birth due to different reasons leaving them under the threat of malnutrition or even death. Prior to that, in NFHS-3 (2005-06), institutional delivery in Rajasthan was almost 30 per cent and only 13 per cent of children under 3 years of age were breastfed within an hour of birth. According to the survey, around 42 per cent children under six months were not exclusively breastfed.
“The policy is assuring that the state government has reinforced its commitment towards both early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding. This initiative will not only improve the indicators but will also use this opportunity to reduce both infant and neonatal mortality while improving immunity towards infections such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and other childhood illnesses,” said Minakshi.
The policy, jointly developed by NHM and WCD with technical support from UNICEF, is expected to contribute towards fulfilling the aspirations of the state which includes, initiation of breast feeding within an hour at the facility level inside the labour room through deliveries on abdomen; supporting mothers to initiate and enable continued exclusive breast feeding; and counselling for continued breast feeding till 2 years of age.
Help Achieve Goal
Health Secretary and Mission Director NHM Naveen Jain said, “We already have Asia’s largest human milk bank network to provide mother milk for the newborns, whose mothers cannot breast feed for various reasons. The policy will help to increase the utilization of these Mother Milk Banks also. We are confident that with the effective implementation of the policy, Rajasthan will be able to achieve the goals to provide mother milk to every newborn.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "breastfeeding")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}