Imphal, August 01: Twenty-five percent of the mortality rate among children from diarrhoea within first month of birth is attributed to denial of breastfeeding, Head Professor of Paediatric, RIMS Dr Ranbir Laishram has stated.

Speaking as resource person of a day-long State level workshop held at the conference hall of Institute of Co-operative Management, Lamphel today as part of the 16th World Breast-feeding Week being observed from August 1 to 7, Dr Ranbir explained that breast-feeding can ensure health for both the mother and the child.

Dr Ranbir, who spoke on the topic of 'Concept of Neo-natal deathinfant and young child feeding practices' further pointed out that 30,500 children are dying every day from malnutrition in underdeveloped countries of the world.

Mortality rate among newly born infants from malnutrition, dehydration, chronic diarrhoea and other infectious diseases is very high.

However, the infants can be protected from such deadly diseases if they were given the yellowish milk secreted by the mothers soon after giving birth within one hours of birth, Dr Ranbir said.

Stating that mother's milk is best feed of the child and it is like the nectar, Dr Ranbir explained that for the first six months, infants should be given breast-feeding only.

After six months, home prepared foods can be given.

But care should be taken not to provide any eatables sold in the shops as such eatables can retard the physical and mental development of the child.

Breastfeeding is also helpful in maintaining the financial position of the family because 25 to 50 percent of the family income is required in bringing up a child without breast-feeding.

Moreover, breastfeeding helps in cementing the bonding between the mother and the child.

So the family members should support breastfeeding of the child by the mother, Dr Ranbir added.

Chairman of Planning and Development Authority, Government of Manipur Dr Kh Loken Singh inaugurated the workshop organised jointly by Community Food and Nutrition, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Chingamathak and Institute of Cooperative Management, Lamphelpat.

Chairman of Institute of Co-operative Management Kh Borekeshore Singh and Principal of the Institute were also present at the occasion as functional president and guest of honour respectively.

Additional Director of Department of Health Services Dr MK Sharma chaired the workshop held under the theme of 'Mother support: Going for the gold'.

In the second session of the workshop, former principal of DM College of Science Th Bedamani Devi spoke on the topic of 'Education of adolescent girls, newly married women and mother support and family support for breastfeeding' and Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh on 'Correct norms on breastfeeding'.

A health and nutrition exhibition has also been inaugurated in connection with the observance.

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