Ranchi, Aug. 3: Thirteen to 15 per cent of the 10.9 children under five, who die across the world, can be saved if they are breast-fed.

This fact came to light at a seminar organised by the Breast-feeding Promotion Network of India, Ranchi branch, (BPNI) at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) today.

The seminar was organised as part of the Breast-feeding Week (August 1 to August 7).

Various doctors of Rims and representatives of different non governmental organisations took part in the seminar.

One of the officials of BPNI and a prominent child specialist, Sunita Katyan said, “We have decided to promote breast-feeding all this week. This seminar aims at acknowledging the scientific aspects rationale behind the campaign.”

According to reports, infants aged between 0-5 months, who are not breast-fed are seven times more at risk of diseases like diarrhoea and pneumonia. The report also mentions that breast milk fulfils all the nutritional requirements of a baby in the first six months.

A.K. Sharma, president of the BPNI, Ranchi said, “There are many advantages that a child gets through breast-feeding. It provides the perfect nutrients needed for the overall development of the child. Breast-milk can be easily digested by the child and it protects her from infections.”

Sharma added, “Human milk contains more lactose compared to the milk of cow or goat. The lactose can be easily digested by a baby. Moreover, white cells present in the milk produce antibodies in the child.”