Bihar Government promotes breast-feeding to reduce infant mortality rate
2 Nov 2009, 2215 Hrs

Add comment          Mail          Print          Write to Editor

Patna, Nov 2 Reduce the infant mortality rate in Bihar, the State Government has started an initiative of sending greeting cards to the families of newborns with a message stating the significance of breast-feeding for mother and child.

Health Minister of Bihar Government Nand Kishor Yadav said that the infant mortality rate would drop by 22 percent, if the mothers breastfed their babies.

"The mortality rate of the mother and the child is very high in India. So, in order to promote breast-feeding, we can drop the infant mortality rate by 22 percent and for this effort we have been praised by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)," Yadav said.

"We want to spread the message of breast-feeding even in the remote villages through these cards which had the name of children written on them. Generally it is observed had we printed the brochures the parents would have thrown them away, but the cards they will preserve and through the card the message of breast feeding is being spread," he added.

The greeting card advises the mothers to breastfeed their newly born babies during the first six months.

Families have appreciated the initiative saying that it was a good method to educate them about the advantages of breast-feeding.

"We are very happy on being given this card on the baby's delivery. The message on the card informs how to keep the baby healthy and the mothers are advised to breast feed the children for six months," said Rinku Devi, mother of a newborn baby.

India has the highest infant mortality rate in the world, a nationwide survey reveals. According to a United Nations Human Development report, India has slipped from 128th to 134th rank in 2009. (ANI)

Related Latest

Delhi government pulled up for discrimination in parole Condemn Maoist violence, government tells civil society After protests, government agrees to restore earlier sugarcane pricing Maharashtra Government orders inquiry into parading undertrials Tribals will benefit from Congress government in Jharkhand: Sonia Centre asks U P Government to increase Rahul Gandhi's security After bad publicity, government removes cops from Gateway of India Delhi government schools to get facelift by 2010, says Dikshit Opposition corners government over sugarcane pricing, Lok Sabha adjourned 3-month-old infant put up on sale in West Bengal

Related Latest

Fort Hood gunman couldn't wait to join Qaeda imam in paradise in the afterlife AirAsia set to become most connected non-local airline in India Clarke's ultimate dream is Australian captaincy Winning more important to Murray than money Nadal says Agassi's 'lying' revelations are "terrible for tennis" Liverpool will be in top four of the league table, vows Benitez Maharashtra CM assures journalists of action against attackers on IBN office Panesar blames measly 7,500 pounds for England career decline Sarah Palin's book selling like hot cakes CIA chief meets Narayanan

• Fort Hood gunman couldn't wait to join Qaeda imam in paradise in the afterlife
• Clarke's ultimate dream is Australian captaincy
• Winning more important to Murray than money
• Nadal says Agassi's 'lying' revelations are "terrible for tennis"
• Liverpool will be in top four of the league table, vows Benitez

• भारतीय क्रिकेट की मजबूत दीवार
• कंगारूओं के आगे ढेर, चीतों से कैसे मुकाबला करेंगें शेर
• Reducing greenhouse gases may not be enough to slow global warming
• बीकानेर महापौर चुनावः एक विश्लेषण
• Deepawali: The Festival Of Lights