Ranchi, Aug. 6: As the world breast-feeding week draws to a close tomorrow, doctors in drought-hit Jharkhand are a worried lot. Reason: not much has been done to create awareness about the importance of breast milk here.

Dr Sunita Katyayan, the state co-ordinator of the Breast-feeding Association Network of India, said: “The theme this year asks a challenging question — how well are we prepared to get our children breast-fed in those communities and areas hit by natural calamities like flood, drought and earthquake. This is of greater importance this time, as Jharkhand is drought-hit and has the lowest rates of breast-feeding in India.”

If the state doesn’t do enough to promote breast-feeding, infants born during the period will grow into malnourished individuals.

Figures from the report of National Family Health Survey III show that initiation of breast-feeding within one hour of birth is at a minimal 10.7 per cent in Jharkhand, only higher than Uttar Pradesh (7.3 per cent) and Bihar (3.7 per cent). It also ranks 24th in exclusive breast-feeding (0 to 6 months) with a score of 12 per cent.

Arvind Kumar, a paediatrician associated with RIMS, said: “Mother’s milk consists of colostrums, which not only fulfils a child’s one-third food requirement, but is also good for bone and muscle growth. It is being feared that malnourished and poor women are unaware of the importance of breast milk and stick to artificial methods. Tinned, bottled and powdered milk are prepared under unhygienic conditions and also lead to diarrhoea.”

The revolution of breast-feeding was first started by Margaret Mitchell of the Red Cross Society in Geneva in 1934. It was in the deserts of Africa that she explained the importance of breast-feeding. Since then, the message has been disseminated across the world.