India’s Exclusive Breastfeeding Rate Falls, Health Risks Rise

The Story in Brief

India’s rate of exclusive breastfeeding fell from 63.7% in NFHS-5 to 55.8% in NFHS-6, The Hindu reports, as it reviews major health concerns. The paper says mothers need stronger support from hospitals to homes and workplaces, while rising C-section deliveries may have delayed breastfeeding. Karnataka and Maharashtra have also restricted the sale, advertising and promotion of foods high in fat, sugar and salt in and around educational institutions.

The Hindu’s roundup covers disease outbreaks, including 49 leptospirosis deaths in Kerala in July, 22 children killed by Chandipura virus in Gujarat this monsoon, and a study warning that dengue strains are circulating across much of India. Another study found more than a fifth of teenagers surveyed may face moderate-to-high substance-use risk.

The Indian Opinion

Social media often presents motherhood as effortless, while junk-food campaigns can treat children’s diets as a matter of personal choice alone. Both narratives miss the role of hospitals, workplaces, schools and regulation. Equally, outbreak coverage should not turn every fever into panic when diagnosis and verified counts matter. The clearest measure of progress is whether exclusive breastfeeding rises above 55.8%, while school food rules are followed beyond the first inspection.

Source: thehindu.com

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