Breastfeeding will reduce infant mortality rate

Chittoor: Breastfeeding would protect the health of the newborn babies, according to noted child specialist and former President of the Indian Medical Association Dr Jagannadh Reddy.

It may be stated here that Jagannadh Reddy has been leading the breastfeeding promotion campaign throughout the district for the last three decades. There is no substitute for breast milk in the world for the newborn babies, he stated.

Speaking to The Hans India here on Thursday on the commencement of week-long World Breastfeeding celebrations from August 1, the child specialist said that there was wrong notion of women losing beauty by breastfeeding babies.

He expressed anguish over certain baby food products discouraging breastfeeding. “Breastfeeding can protect mothers from certain diseases,” he stated, adding a newborn babies should be fed with breastmilk at least 30 minutes in a day after delivery.

He stressed on the need for creating breastfeeding awareness among women. Jagannadh Reddy has mentioned that infant mortality rate can be reduced by encouraging breastfeeding.