Breastfeeding in 1 hour to newborn infant provides protection from pneumonia & diarrhoea

Chandigarh, August 1, 2019: In order to raise awareness about importance and natural qualities of breastfeeding to newborn infants, the Health and Family Welfare Department Punjab has launched a weekly program from 1 to 7 August across the State to provide protection from pneumonia & diarrhoea.

Disclosing this here today on the occasion, Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said that to save the children from the preventive diseases, there is need to sensitize the pregnant women regarding the significance of breastfeeding even now in the era of hi-tech technology. He said that as per National Health Family Survey (2015-16), Punjab recorded 18 percent rise in breastfeeding among 90 percent of institutional deliveries during the last 10 years which is very low as per the set target.

In view of this, the Punjab Government launched the 'Care Companion Program' on July 27, 2017, through which staff nurses are providing the adequate information on the importance of breastfeeding for the health of the new born children and mothers. He said that with the implementation of this 'Care Companion Program', there has been a 130 percent rise recorded in information being provided to women about mother-child healthcare programme.

The Health Minister also said that to further spread the awareness about breastfeeding, instructions have been issued to all government hospitals to ensure that breastfeeding be provided within 1 hour to newborn infants even if delivery is done by caesarean. He said that breastfeeding also protects the women from breast and other types of cancers.

He said that it reduces the chances of pneumonia in the baby by 23 percent while in case of negligence the risk of diarrhoea increases 3 times. He further stated that the absence of breastfeeding within 1 hour also keeps the baby at risk for 6 months.