Breastfeeding saves lives of children: UNICEF

The Pioneer : Friday: July 19, 2013

Manish Mathur, Programme Manager of UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh said that breastfeeding saves lives of children. He was speaking at the media interaction held at Indore on Thursday.  He shared that first week of August is globally marked as ‘World Breast feeding Week’ to promote, protect and support breastfeeding.

This year, the theme of World Breastfeeding Week is 'breastfeeding support close to mothers'. The aim of the meeting was to seek media’s support to promote breastfeeding as one of the most critical interventions which can help bring down infant mortality. Ajay Chaturvedi, Director Press Information Bureau, media can play an important role in promotin the importance of breastfeeding. Media can play vital role in reaching out to communities with this life saving message.

Aparna Munshi, Nutrition Officer, UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh shared that early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour, exclusive breastfeeding till six months of age and age appropriate complementary feeding after six months with continued breastfeeding till at least two years can help bring down under infant and under five mortality rate. She shared that as per survey done by National Institute of Nutrition for Government of Madhya Pradesh in the year 2010, 26.4 per cent breastfeed children within one hour of birth and 71 per cent exclusively breastfeed children till six months of age.

Sharad Pandit, Joint Director Health and Family Welfare, Indore division, spoke on the State initiatives and efforts being done to promote this intervention. He added that though there are challenges, but Department is taking steps like appointment of breastfeeding counselors at district hospitals, village health and nutrition days at AWCs to promote breastfeeding behaviour. Dr Manjula Chaturvedi, Deputy Director Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Madhya Pradesh said it is a social issue, and needs behavior change among communities. Department of Women and Child development is taking steps to reach out with its network of anganwadi centers and using platforms like Mangwal Diwas, to help bring awareness among communities.  Anil Gulati Communication Specialist, UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh coordinated the interaction. Pooja P Vardhan, Additional Director Press Information Bureau, Indore was also present at the meet.

Radio to raise awareness against child marriage

In a meeting hosted on Friday in Bhopal by UNICEF on radio and child rights, radio partners like All India Radio, Radio Mirchi, Red FM, Big FM, MY FM, BBC Media Action Group and community radio stations Radio Azad Hind and Radio Dharkan from Shivpuri participated.

Speaking at the meet Tania Goldner,Chief, UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh, said that radio can help make a difference on issues of child rights particularly creating awareness on Right to Education and child marriage.

She said while speaking on Right to Education that State of Madhya Pradesh has made a progress on education yet we have challenges on quality and learning levels.

And similarly child marriage is a child rights violation and we need to take steps to prevent this and radio can play a role in creating awareness and bringing attention to this issue, she said.

Rashmi Arun Shami, Commissioner Rajya Shiksha Kendra, Gvernment of Madhya Pradesh, shared on the steps being taken by the State Government for promoting school education in the State.

She said that education is a key to prevention of child marriage and radio has a role in motivating families on education and prevention of child marriage.

She shared about the work being done by the education department with All India Radio like Meena Radio, English is Fun, and Jhilmil and the positive feedback the department is receiving for these programmes.

Manish Mathur, Programme Manager, UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh, spoke on the challenges on implementation of right to education, infrastructure gaps, and consequences of child marriage.

He added as per annual health survey data of the year 2010 – 11, 12.5 percent of girls in MP get married before their legal age of marriage, while 18.9 percent of boys get married before their legal age.

Anil Gulati, Communication Specialist with UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh, coordinated the discussion and said that follow up plans included sharing of information so that radio partners can work out content which can help create awareness and also be part of on ground actvities to promote right to education and prevent child marriages.

Shefali Chaturvedi of BBC media action group shared information about 'Khirki Mehndi wali', a programme being produced by BBC media action group.

Representatives of radio partners Pinky Tiwari, Roopak from Radio Mirchi, Garima Shukla and Anuj from Big FM, Rajeev from Red FM shared their thoughts, and how they can and will contribute as part of their corporate social responsibility on these two issues.
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