LUCKNOW, Aug. 6 -- Uttar Pradesh will establish Lactation Management Units (LMUs) in all 120 Sick Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) by the end of this year to promote exclusive breastfeeding, Dr Milind Vardhan, general manager, National Health Mission (NHM), announced on Wednesday. Speaking at a Unicef-organised media dialogue during World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7), Dr Vardhan said 34 LMUs are already functional and more than 11,000 newborns have benefited from them between April and July, while staff at 36 additional SNCUs have been trained, a release shared with the media read.Calling the decline in exclusive breastfeeding a matter of concern, he cited NFHS-6 (2023-24) data showing that early initiation of breastfeeding in Uttar Pradesh has improved from 23.9% to 43.1%, but exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months has fallen from 59.7% to 34.6%, despite 85.9% institutional deliveries, it read. "Breastfeeding is not just the mother's responsibility. Families and society must ensure that every child receives breast milk, which is every child's right," Dr Vardhan said.Dr SN Singh, head of paediatrics at King George's Medical University (KGMU), said exclusive breastfeeding protects infants from diarrhoea, pneumonia and infections and supports healthy physical and mental development. Dr Anjoo Agarwal, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at KGMU, stressed adequate birth spacing to enable mothers to breastfeed for the recommended duration, the release read. Dr Akash Pandita, paediatrician at Medanta hospital, highlighted provisions of the Infant Milk Substitutes (IMS) Act, which prohibits promotion of infant milk substitutes and sponsorship of health professionals by formula companies. Violations attract imprisonment of six months to five years and fines of Rs.2,000-5,000, it added. Rabi Narayan Parhi, nutrition specialist, Unicef, called for breastfeeding-friendly workplaces with creches, nursing rooms and paternity leave to help mothers continue breastfeeding. Dr Anupama Shandilya, deputy director, ICDS, shared that the department's 1.84 lakh Anganwadi workers, along with nearly as many helpers, are spreading awareness about the importance of breastfeeding at the village level.The dialogue was attended by Mansoor Qadri, child protection specialist, Unicef, Vijay Agarwal, health officer,Unicef, Akanksha and consultants, development sector partners such as Nutrition International (NI) and the Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR) among other senior officials....