Steps needed to promote breastfeeding

The World Breastfeeding Week began in the country as elsewhere in the world yesterday. Various programmes have been chalked out by the government and private organizations marking the week. Breastfeeding is the birthright of every child. But how many children are getting this opportunity? Breastfeeding makes a baby healthy and protect him/her from various diseases. Working mothers find it very difficult to breastfeed their babies as they have to remain outside their residences for long hours of the day. Besides, many impoverished mothers suffer from malnutrition and hence cannot breastfeed their babies properly. Children of these ill-fated mothers become victims of malnutrition and have to bear the brunt of this malady.

Children comprise about 40 per cent of the country’s total population of the country. They are the future of the country and development of the country cannot be thought of ignoring their rights. But there is hardly any reason to become optimistic at the overall scenario related to children’s rights in the country. Absence of birth registration is the first deprivation that a child of an impoverished family confronts. This triggers difficulty in ascertaining his or her age.   

Underprivileged children are exposed to harsh realities of life. They are compelled to work from very early age to eke out a living.  Many children grow up in slums and footpaths in the country, particularly in the capital, without any care and attention. Over the past few years the country saw a phenomenal increase in the number of street children with the rapid population growth.

Almost 85 per cent of them are growing up in a dirty and unhygienic environment; they face malnutrition and different diseases. Children must be freed from all sorts of cruelties and inhuman behaviours, violance, repression and deprivation for building them as worthy citizens.   

It is the responsibility of the relevant authorities to make arrangement for the working mothers to breastfeed their babies. In every office or garment factory there should be a breastfeeding corner. The benefits of breastfeeding should be propagated by different government agencies. There is no alternative to breastfeeding for proper nourishment and intellectual development of the children.

Steps needed to promote breastfeeding

The World Breastfeeding Week began in the country as elsewhere in the world yesterday. Various programmes have been chalked out by the government and private organizations marking the week. Breastfeeding is the birthright of every child. But how many children are getting this opportunity? Breastfeeding makes a baby healthy and protect him/her from various diseases. Working mothers find it very difficult to breastfeed their babies as they have to remain outside their residences for long hours of the day. Besides, many impoverished mothers suffer from malnutrition and hence cannot breastfeed their babies properly. Children of these ill-fated mothers become victims of malnutrition and have to bear the brunt of this malady. Children comprise about 40 per cent of the countrys total population of the country. They are the future of the country and development of the country cannot be thought of ignoring their rights. But there is hardly any reason to become optimistic at the overall scenario related to childrens rights in the country. Absence of birth registration is the first deprivation that a child of an impoverished family confronts. This triggers difficulty in ascertaining his or her age. Underprivileged children are exposed to harsh realities of life. They are compelled to work from very early age to eke out a living. Many children grow up in slums and footpaths in the country, particularly in the capital, without any care and attention. Over the past few years the country saw a phenomenal increase in the number of street children with the rapid population growth. Almost 85 per cent of them are growing up in a dirty and unhygienic environment; they face malnutrition and different diseases. Children must be freed from all sorts of cruelties and inhuman behaviours, violance, repression and deprivation for building them as worthy citizens. It is the responsibility of the relevant authorities to make arrangement for the working mothers to breastfeed their babies. In every office or garment factory there should be a breastfeeding corner. The benefits of breastfeeding should be propagated by different government agencies. There is no alternative to breastfeeding for proper nourishment and intellectual development of the children.