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Malnourished children a major concern in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL: The problem of malnutrition in children is a matter of concern all over the country and particularly so in Madhya Pradesh. About 60 per cent of the State’s children below three years of age are malnourished and only 16 per cent of women are known to be breastfeeding their baby within one hour of birth.

This was pointed out by Secretary of the Madhya Pradesh Child Rights Observatory, Sheela Bhambal, at a briefing here organised to mark World Breastfeeding Week — observed from August 1 to 7.

The Observatory, an independent platform established with the initiative and support of UNICEF, aims at monitoring, advocating, lobbying and promoting the rights of children in the State.

This year’s theme for the World Breastfeeding Week is “Mother Support: Going for the Gold” as this happens to be the year of the Olympic Games. Like an athlete, every breastfeeding mother also needs support from many quarters, explains Dr. Bhambal.

According to her, scientific evidence shows that about 22 per cent of newborn deaths can be prevented if breastfeeding is started immediately after birth and is continued up till the child is six months old.

However, Dr. Bhambal said the latest National Family Health Survey-3 data shows that only 22 per cent babies are getting exclusively breastfed up to six months of age in the State.

“Less than 50 per cent of the mothers give were giving semi-solid food to their children when they cross the six-month stage,” she added.

Dr. Bhambal emphasised that mothers need strong support from their families, workplace and the health care system to look after their own nutrition and to get enough time to feed. The existing law preventing unethical sale of tinned milk and feeding bottles should be strictly enforced, she asserted.

Dr. Bhambal said growth during infancy and childhood depends on birth weight, adequacy of infant feeding and absence of infection.

In India there is data to indicate that exclusively breastfed infants thrive normally and have lower episodes of morbidity than those receiving supplements in addition to breast milk. In view of this, promotion of universal exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life has been the national policy, she said, pointing out that breast milk alone is insufficient after six months and appropriate semi-solid complimentary foods have to be introduced to meet the growing baby’s nutrient needs.

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