World Breastfeeding Week 2021: Everything You Need To Know

New Delhi: Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival, according to the World Health Organization. However, nearly 2 in 3 infants are not exclusively breastfed for the recommended 6 months, a rate that has not improved in TWO decades. It also indicates that if breastfeeding were extended to near universal levels, approximately 8-20,000 children’s lives would be saved each year. In India, according to the results of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), conducted in 2019-2020 for 22 states and Union Territories (UT), a worrying trend in feeding practices of children has been observed. According to the data, a significant decrease has been reported in children under the age of three who are breastfed within one hour of birth. On the other hand, the survey shows an improvement in exclusivity breastfeeding with 16 states and UTs reporting an increase.

Read also: COVID-positive mothers should continue to breastfeed and maintain a physical distance from the baby the rest of the time

To improve the breastfeeding situation around the world, the World Health Assembly, the forum through which the World Health Organization is governed by its 194 member states, set itself the goal of increasing the breastfeeding rate. of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months to at least 50% by 2025 globally, up from 38% in 2012. As World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year, from August 1-7, here is five things to know about this campaign:

What is World Breastfeeding Week?

Every year the world celebrates Breastfeeding Week from August 1-7. It is celebrated to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration signed in August 1990 by government decision makers, WHO, UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Fund) and other organizations to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

Read also: Why Do Breastfed Babies Have Improved Immune Systems? Research reveals

Importance of breastfeeding

Breastfeeding, also known as breastfeeding, is the way to provide young infants with essential nutrients necessary for their growth and development. The World Health Organization says breast milk is the perfect food for infants. It is safe, clean, and contains antibodies that help protect against many common childhood illnesses.

Breastmilk also provides all the energy and nutrients an infant needs during the first months of life, and it continues to provide up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of life. first year, and up to a third during the second year of life. The World Health Organization recommends starting breastfeeding within the first hour of the birth of a child. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for up to six months.

WHO and UNICEF say breastfed children score better on intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese, and less likely to develop diabetes later in life. Not only babies, breastfeeding is also beneficial for women, according to the WHO, breastfeeding women also have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Read also: Breastfeeding – Its importance and challenges, first-time parents Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi share their experiences

Theme for World Breastfeeding Week 2019

World Breastfeeding Week is marked each year by a specific theme. This year’s theme for Breastfeeding Week is “Protecting Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility”. The focus is on how breastfeeding contributes to the survival, health and well-being of all, and why it is imperative to protect breastfeeding worldwide.

Breastfeeding week story

World Breastfeeding Week dates back to 1979 when the WHO launched a battle against the promotion of baby food in the market and against brand interference in breastfeeding in hospitals. Globally, it was noticed that powdered milk formulas had a negative impact on children’s health and that something had to be done. In 1990, agencies and legislators took inspiration from the breastfeeding movement and signed the Innocenti Declaration. Since 2016, World Breastfeeding Week has been aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2018, a World Health Assembly resolution endorsed World Breastfeeding Week as an important strategy to promote breastfeeding.

NDTV Campaign – Dettol Banega Swasth India is an extension of the Banega Swachh India initiative launched five years ago and led by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to raise awareness of the critical health issues facing the country. In the wake of the current Covid-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as hand washing is one of the ways to prevent infection with coronavirus and other illnesses. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and health care for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anemia and disease prevention with vaccines. The importance of programs such as the Public Distribution System (PDS), Midday Meal Program, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or a clean India where bathroom are used and without open defecation (ODF) status obtained under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like Diahorea and become a healthy Swasth or India. The campaign will continue to cover issues such as air pollution, Waste Management, plastic ban, manual sweep and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.