New Delhi: Shocking data reveals that in India only half of the children born are breastfed in the first hour. The rest are fed on infant formula, making them susceptible to health risks. To understand and curb the violations in the Infant Milk Substitutes Act, a new mobile application was launched on Friday.
Developed by Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI), the app will monitor and report violations of the IMS Act (also known as The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles, and Infant Foods Act) to the regulatory bodies.
More than 14 million babies in India risk their health as baby food companies flout laws and continue promoting their products in the market.
BPNI will be organising a dialogue with policy makers, UN agencies, academicians, and women and child rights experts with an aim to strengthen the enforcement of IMS Act and holding the baby food business accountable with an attempt to ensure the human rights of women and children in attaining optimal health and nutrition.
A number of violations have been identified by BPNI as part of the monitoring programme. These companies have violated provisions of the IMS Act more than once and continue to mislead mothers through various misleading tactics.
As per the 2016 Lancet report, improvements in breastfeeding rate is necessary to achieve the SDG targets for health, food security, education, reducing inequalities, development, and climate change.
To understand the issue holistically, it is important to understand the figures. In India, about 26 million children are born annually. Out of which, 20 million children are born in institutions. 12 million kids are breastfed within the first hour of birth. 14 million children are fed on infant formula and other milk in the first hour of birth.
The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods Act 1992 and Amendment Act 2003 (IMS Act) clearly prohibits manufacturers of baby food or milk substitute manufacturers from sponsorship or financial inducements.
