Breastfeeding the newborn within an hour of delivery reduces chances of pneumonia in the baby by 23 per cent while in case of negligence, the risk of diarrhea increases three times.

Punjab Health and Family Welfare minister stated this while launching a statewide program on 1st August for raising the importance of breastfeeding to newborns. He said that breastfeeding also protects the women from breast and other types of cancers. He said to save the children from the preventive diseases, there is need to sensitize the pregnant women regarding the significance of breastfeeding. He said that as per National Health Family Survey (2015-16), Punjab recorded 18 per cent rise in breastfeeding among 90 per cent of institutional deliveries during the last 10 years which is very low as per the set target.

The Punjab Government has launched a 'Care Companion Program' in July, 2017, through which staff nurses are providing the adequate information on the importance of breastfeeding for the health of the new born children and mothers, the minister said.