Breastfeeding The Best Investment
Item
- Title
- Breastfeeding The Best Investment
- extracted text
-
SDA-RF-CH-1.40
Breastfeeding
The Best Investment
B'reastfeeding has been the most natural
response of a mother to satisfy the emotional
and nutritional needs of her infant.
This natural food has proved to be the complete
and protective foodfor the baby. That this can
even save us money, is perhaps not thought of.
Il becomes important because health
programmes have interpreted breastfeeding
as a preventive and promotive measure,
without highlighting that money spent and
efforts made in this area can be an effective
investment opportunity’ to achieve savings
on other health care spendings and healthy
returns for the nation.
estl>ient
on
Unfortunately efforts have not been made to
look into the potentials of investments to be
made in this area with wider scope of savings
and returns not only in monetary and economic
terms but also in terms of building a healthy nation
with wide ranging progress avenues being opened up.
The Infant Mortality Rate and Under 5 Mortality
Rate are largely the determining factors for the
planning ofspendings to be made on preventive and
curative services to be provided by the government.
The protective effect of breastfeeding is silent and
is done by the regular supply of breastmilk to the
childfrom the day she/he is born. The goodness
and effectivity of the breastmilk has long been
establishedfor reducing diarrhoea, pneumonia.
improved child nutrition and development along
with its potentials in child spacing.
World Breastfeeding Week
JL - 7 August,
1998
Breastfeeding as a national resource
Breastfeeding is a natural resource that is frequently overlooked.In some countries investing in its promotion has proven
to be the most cost-effective intervention for child survival, equal to conventional practices such as immunizations and
vitamin A supplementation and surpassing oral rehydration therapy. Breastfeeding is ’priceless’. Advocacy of exclusive
breastfeeding requires an appreciation of its full importance by all sections of society. Economic measurements cannot
put a value on any expression of love or altruism.
However, placing human milk on food balance sheets could increase its perceived value. While the value ol
manufactured baby foods is included in the calculation of the Gross National Product (GNP). the value ol breastmilk is not.
Seeing the real size of this contribution in terms of the food supply to a nation is impressive and demonstrates to responsible
policy makers the importance of this activity' in terms that they can more easily relate to.
Plan outplays as compared to cost of breastmilk.
The Economic value of breastmilk has been
calculated to be Rs.5916 or 11832crores when
priced at animal or tinned milk respectively.
It can be compared with outlays of various
developmental sectors in the Central Plan outlay
of Government of India. (1998-99).
The value of breastmilk produced in India is
equal to the plan outlay of Departments of
Industry and Department of Power, more
than the allocation for Railways and three times
that of Department of Education and Department
of Health and Family Welfare.
It is almost 10 times the allocation for
Department of Women and Child Development.
This makes it a perfect case for a planned investment to be made for the promotion of
breastfeeding and the provision of the support system required to augment this activity.
Investments made on the cause of breastfeeding and related activities are bound to
reduce the expenditures in the other health care sector and provide better returns.
£)
AIMS OF
WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK-1998
World Breastfeeding Week 1998 aims to initiate actions to protect, promote and support breastfeeding as one of the best
investments in the health of a nation. This year’s goals are to :
« Raise public awareness on the economic value of breastfeeding and the high cost of bottle feeding.
Provide concrete data on the economic advantages of breastfeeding for public advocacy.
ft Help governments to appreciate the full economic value of breastfeeding and recognise the need to include support for
breastfeeding promotion programmes in the national health budget.
BREASTFEEDING
A Life Time Investment
Corporate
S
41
E
>
g
c/5
In Breastfeeding Promotion,
G Installing healthy breastfed
baby award for the employees.
Seiling up creches in the
workplace.
Less expenditure on medical care
Government
Establishment of creches at
workplace.
O Provision of adequate maternity
benefits.
Monitoring and evaluation of
policy for promotion of breastfeeding.
Provision of breastfeeding time
during working hours.
Mass
Media
Promote breastfeeding and
appropriate infant feeding at all
given opportunities.
Publicise and make use of events
and activities that promote and
protect breastfeeding.
Reduced expenses on health
problems during infancy.
OX)
>
Reduced work absenteeism.
Reduced expenditure on health
care.
C
s
3,;
E3 Less time spent away from
workplace by the employees
Reduced budget for Health and
Family Welfare programmes.
■ Greater workplace loyalty among
employees.
■ Increased availability of breastmilk.
■ Reduced birth rate.
■ Reduced infant mortality and under
■ Humane policies of the organization
attract media and publicity, improve
companies public relation.
5 mortality.
■ Reduced malnutrition in children.
■ Increased work output by the
satisfied employees.
Time, and money spent on market
research fora harmful product.
■ Better work output.
■ Spare budget for other programmes.
■ Contributes to food security plan.
~ Improved public relation.
E Reduction in problem of disposal
of waste products.
NGOs
To include knowledge and benefits
about breastfeeding in the
classroom teachings,
Efforts to promote breastfeeding in
the community.
Making students aware of possible
dangers of use of infant formulas
and bottle feeding.
Advocacy for creches and maternity
benefits.
Organize activities with students that
promote the cause of breastfeeding.
Research and dissemination of
information on appropriate infant
feeding.
Teach breastfeeding to medical
students.
Educational effort at grassroot level
Increased productivity and time
of staff.
Time and resources saved for
the training of doctors.
Time and money spent on
promotional and curative
health care of infants fed on
artificial milk.
O Care and nutrition of the
breastfeeding mother and
adolescent girl.
Savings of time for child care.
Reduced health care cost.
Time spent on preparation of bottle
feeds.
Man days lost due to sickness of the
child.
Reduced tension (mental and
physical).
Saving of rupees three to six
thousand in first six months if rhe
child is not bottle fed.
■ Better physical health of baby.
More creative time available for
promoting healthier and natural
products.
Increased business with socially
conscious corporates and individuals.
Savings on natural resources.
E3 Organizational acknowledgment at
the national and international level.
Educational
Institutions
El Wider acknowledgment among social
organizations and people at large.
O Improved public relation.
Increased girl participation in
education.
■ Improved work efficiency and
achievements through reduced
morbidity and mortality in their
work area.
■ Socially responsible and more
aware students.
■ Increased community participation
in the MCH programmes.
Belter human resource generation.
■ Improved child spacing in their
area of work.
Wider acknowledgment of the
institutions for carrying out social
activities among the communities.
Savings on special remedial
education.
Es National savings in energy and fuel
EJ Increased exclusive breastfeeding.
■ Belter bonding with the children.
■ Improved nutritional status of
children.
■ Provides food security for young
infants and good nutrition for
children below two years.
■ Savings in energy and fuel.
The organization achieves better
health and development status.
■ Reduced breast and ovarian cancer
in women.
■ Reduced post-partum
bleeding and anaemia.
Cost of bottle feeding a child for first six months
First Mouth
Second Month
Third Month
Fourth Month
Fifth Month
Sixth Month j
Bottle
76
\Nipple
26
26
26
26
26
26
Fuel
20
20
20
20
20
20
Powder Milk
660
840
1020
1200
1200
1200
-'-flotul (Rupees)
782
924
1104
1284
1284
1284
(fff
... _
Total
6662
Cost to a family
The cost of artificially feeding a child
tjlbr the first 6 months is estimated to
be an average of about Rs. 1100 per
month, which is equivalent to about
43% of minimum wages of a skilled
worker, 25% salary of a class IV
employee or 14% salary of a school
teacher.This is significant enough to
pinch the household budget of every
family. With this amount at current
prices, one can buy 220 kg wheat or
40 dozen oranges or 50 kg of
vegetables for the family. This cost
does not include the time cost to
purchase, prepare and administer
pottle-feeds and the cost of
sickness that may occur.
D
43% of minimum wages
25% of minimum salary
of a class IV worker
14% of minimum salary
of a School teacher
IDEAS FOR ACTION
$ Organize community group discussions and presentations on the cost of formula feeding.
> Find ways through TV. Radio. Newspapers and other local / folk media to promote breastfeeding and give recognition to
workplaces and activities that encourage breastfeeding.
ft Give a copy of this folder to the people in government responsible for establishing maternity protection laws, labour
regulations and health programmes.
ft Give presentations and talks at schools, colleges, women’s groups, business groups.
clubs etc. about the real cost of not breastfeeding.
ft Show how hospital costs can be reduced when breastfeeding increases. They realize savings in purchase of IV fluids,
breastmilk substitutes, bottles, staff nursing time, reduced hospital days and medication for premature and newborns.
ft Show the cost of artificial feeding increased by a family along with the possible costs increased for taking care of infections
caused by the same. When a child is breastfed, the same costs become the savings, to be utilized for other needs of family.
Useful Address^
Resource Material
World Alliance for Breastfeeding
Action (WABA)
P.O. Box number 1200,
10850, Penang, Malaysia
Book
The law to protect and
promote breastfeeding. A
publication of BPN1
to explain the provisions of
the IMS Act
International Baby Food
Action Network
(IBFAN) Asia. P.O. Box number 19,
10700 Penang, Malaysia
Rs. 40.00
Poster 12” X 18”
(Art paper, four colour, sticker type)
(in English & Hindi)
United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF)
73, Lodi Estate,
New Delhi - 110 003
Rs. 5.00
Association for Consumers Action
on Safety and Health (ACASH)
Servants of India Society Building,
2nd Floor.. 417 Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel Road, Mumbai - 400 004
Video (Maa ka pyar - Shishu ahar)
Language : Hindi & English
Rs. 250 per cassette
Department of Women and Clifl
Development ( D W C D j
Government of India,
Shastri Bhawan,
New Delhi - 110 001
Book
Breastfeeding & Infant feeding
A Guide for parents
Rs. 10
n,»ni r
*eah,g
Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI), BP - 33, Pitampura,
New Delhi - 110 034 (India). Ph .: 7443445, Fax : 7219606
E-mail : ritamn@nda.vsnl.net.in
Department of MCI!
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare,
Government of India,
Nirman B ha wan.
New Delhi - 110 001
BPNI does not accept sponsorship ofany kindfrom companies producing Infant Milk Substitutes.
infant foods or related equipments. BPNI requests that all members and World Breastfeeding Week (Il'BW)
participants respect and follow these ethical guidelines.
Acknowledgments
This action brochure has been produced by BPNI with the support of
DWCD. GOI and with assistance from UNICEF. India
Written & Compiled by Padam Khanna
Published by Dr. Arun Gupta. National Coordinator BPNI on behalf oi'BPNI.
(For Private Circulation only).
Designed by R . S. Arts & Prints. Azadpur, Delhi • 110 033
Printed by D.K. Fine Art Press Pvt. Ltd., A-6 Nimri Community Centre,
Ashok Vihar, Phase-IV, Delhi-110052. Ph. .745245 I
- Media
SDA-RF-CH-1.40.pdf
Position: 6099 (1 views)