Govt launches nation-wide breast feeding programme
A Akhter /NEW DELHI
Ministry of Health, government of India has launched a nation-wide breast feeding programme MAA – Mothers’ Absolute Affection. The goal of the programme is to enhance optimal breastfeeding practices.
MAA is an intensified programme for creating an enabling environment to ensure that mothers, husbands and families receive adequate information and support for promotion of breastfeeding.
The Ministry has allocated 30 crore rupees for the Programme and 4.3 lakh rupees for each district for implementing the various activities under MAA programme.
Launching the programme in New Delhi Friday, Health Minister J P Nadda said, the programme is a very cost effective and significant health intervention along with deworming programme.
He said, the practice of breastfeeding enhance immunity level in the child and it will greatly help to reduce the under five mortality of children.
Breastfeeding is one of the important interventions for child survival.
Noted film actress Madhuri Dixit has been chosen as brand ambassador of the breastfeeding promotion programme run by the health ministry government of India.
Speaking on the occasion Madhuri Dixit, laid emphasis on Mothers milk in ensuring the survival of the child. The actor and mother of two healthy children, said, “Early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth and thereafter exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months are essential for the wellness of the child.” She further added that awareness should be generated to promote breastfeeding. The simple act of breastfeeding can ensure our children have the right nutrients to start their life”
Addressing the gathering, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Faggan Singh Kulaste, said that awareness was the key among people and we have to work on dispelling myths and misconceptions.
Another Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel, said that Breastfeeding is central to improving child survival. Poor breastfeeding practices contribute to about 13% of child deaths.
“MAA-Mother’s Absolute Affection’’ is a nationwide programme launched in an attempt to bring undiluted focus on promotion of breastfeeding and provision of counselling services for supporting breastfeeding through health systems.
The programme has been named ‘MAA’ to signify the support a lactating mother requires from family members and at health facilities to breastfeed successfully. The chief components of the MAA Programme are Community awareness generation, Strengthening inter personal communication through ASHA, Skilled support for breastfeeding at Delivery points in Public health facilities, and Monitoring and Award/recognition.
Around 20 per cent newborn deaths and 13 per cent under-five deaths can be prevented by breastfeeding.
Besides this, breastfeeding can prevent child deaths associated with Diarrhoea and Pneumonia.
Infants who are not breastfed are 15 times more likely to die from pneumonia and 11 times more to die from diarrhea than children who are exclusively breastfed. Breastfed infant also have higher intelligence quotient.
