Breast-feeding pushed for infant health

Source:China Daily

Wang Xiaodong

Updated: 2015-08-04

Popularity has declined over past decade with the widespread promotion of powdered milk

Mothers feed their children to promote breast feeding at a shopping mall in Guiyang,Guizhou province on July 28, 2014. [Photo/CFP]

China's top health authority urged on Monday that greater efforts are made to encourage breast-feeding.

It improves maternal and infant well-being, but its popularity has declined over the past decade despite clear health benefits, the authority said.

Globally, about 35 percent of deaths of children under age 5 are attributed to malnutrition, and improving breast-feeding can decrease the infant mortality rate by 13 percent, Wang Guoqiang, vice-minister at the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said on Monday.

Wang was speaking at an event to mark the World Breast-Feeding Week, which continues through Friday.

"China is one of the countries with the highest employment rates for women, and guaranteeing women employees' rights to breast-feeding is very important to decrease the mortality rate of infants and promote their healthy growth," Wang said.