Challenges of malnutrition in India need to be addressed on war-footing: PM

Expressing the need to address the challenges of malnutrition that India is facing on a war-footing, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today said that it is important to focus on foetal under-nourishment and child-rearing practices.

New Delhi, Dec 10 : Expressing the need to address the challenges of malnutrition that India is facing on a war-footing, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today said that it is important to focus on foetal under-nourishment and child-rearing practices.

"The challenges of malnutrition that India is facing need to be addressed on a war-footing. In this connection, it is important to focus on foetal under-nourishment and child rearing practices," Dr Singh said.

"It is important for mothers to understand the importance of breast milk as both a source of nutrition and for building immunity in the child," he added.

The Breast-feeding Promotion Network of India has been doing valuable advocacy in this matter, Dr Singh said, adding that the South Asian Breast-feeding Partners Forum will further promote awareness on this vital issue.

The forum is being organised by the Breast-feeding Promotion Network in collaboration with the International Baby Food Action Network and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

Dr. Singh expressed hope that the forum would throw up useful ideas for combating infant malnutrition at national and global levels.

Dr. Singh's remarks came on the day when the UNICEF's latest report said that "nearly half of under-five child deaths globally are due to malnutrition."

ANI