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Countries failing to stop harmful marketing of breast-milk substitutes: Report

New Delhi (NVI): Despite efforts to stop the harmful promotion of breast-milk substitutes, countries are still falling short in protecting parents from misleading information, according to a new report by World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN).

There is a need for stronger legislation, especially amid the Covid-19 pandemic, to protect families from false claims about the safety of breast-milk substitutes or aggressive marketing practices.

According to medical science and research, there is no substitute for breastmilk as it saves children’s lives by providing antibodies that give babies a healthy boost and protect them against many childhood illnesses.

WHO and UNICEF have encouraged women to continue to breastfeed during the pandemic, even if they have confirmed or suspected COVID-19.

While researchers continue to test breastmilk from mothers with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, current evidence indicate that it is unlikely that COVID-19 would be transmitted through breastfeeding or by giving breastmilk that has been expressed by a mother who is confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19.

“The numerous benefits of breastfeeding substantially outweigh the potential risks of illness associated with the virus. It is not safer to give infant formula milk,” as per the report.

136 out of the 194 countries analyzed in the report, have in place some form of legal measure related to the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent resolutions adopted by the World Health Assembly (the Code). Attention to the Code is growing, as 44 countries have strengthened their regulations on marketing over the past two years, says the report.

However, the legal restrictions in most counties do not fully cover marketing that occurs in health facilities. Only 79 countries prohibit the promotion of breast-milk substitutes in health facilities, and only 51 have provisions that prohibit the distribution of free or low-cost supplies within the health care system.

The report finds that only 19 countries have prohibited the sponsorship of scientific and health professional association meetings by manufacturers of breast-milk substitutes, which include infant formula, follow-up formula, and growing up milks marketed for use by infants and children up to 36-months old.

“The aggressive marketing of breast-milk substitutes, especially through health professionals that parents trust for nutrition and health advice, is a major barrier to improving newborn and child health worldwide,” says Dr Francesco Branca, Director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety.

“Health care systems must act to boost parent’s confidence in breastfeeding without industry influence so that children don’t miss out on its lifesaving benefits,” he added.

WHO and UNICEF recommend that babies be fed nothing but breast milk for their first 6 months, after which they should continue breastfeeding – as well as eating other nutritious and safe foods – until 2 years of age or beyond.

The report further finds that babies who are exclusively breastfed are 14 times less likely to die than babies who are not
breastfed. However, today, only 41% of infants 0–6 months old are exclusively breastfed, a rate WHO Member States have committed to increasing to at least 50% by 2025.

Inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutes continues to undermine efforts to improve breastfeeding rates and the COVID-19 crisis is intensifying the threat, says the report.

Health care services aimed at supporting mothers to breastfeed, including counselling and skilled lactation support are strained as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Infection prevention measures, such as physical distancing make it difficult for community counselling and mother-to-mother support services to continue, leaving an opening for the breast-milk substitute industry to capitalize on the crisis, and diminish confidence in breastfeeding.

“As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, health workers are being diverted to the response and health systems are overstretched. At such time, breastfeeding can protect the lives of millions of children, but new mothers cannot do it without the support of health providers,” said Dr. Victor Aguayo, UNICEF’s Chief of Nutrition.

“We must, more than ever, step up efforts to ensure that every mother and family receive the guidance and support they need from a trained health care worker to breastfeed their children, right from birth, everywhere,” he adds.

The Code bans all forms of promotion of breast-milk substitutes, including advertising, gifts to health workers and distribution of free samples. Labels cannot make nutritional and health claims or include images that idealize infant formula. Instead, labels must carry messages about the superiority of breastfeeding over formula and the risks of not breastfeeding.

Apart from that, WHO and UNICEF call on governments to urgently strengthen legislation on the Code during the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments and civil society organizations should also not seek or accept donations of breast-milk substitutes in emergency situations.

“The fear of COVID-19 transmission is eclipsing the importance of breastfeeding – and in too many countries mothers and babies are being separated at birth – making breastfeeding and skin to skin contact difficult if not impossible. All on the basis of no evidence. Meanwhile, the baby food industry is exploiting fears of infection, promoting and distributing free formula and misleading advice – claiming that the donations are humanitarian and that they are trustworthy partners,” says Patti Rundall, of IBFAN’s Global Council.

Monitoring and enforcement of the Code is inadequate in most countries. The report, “Marketing of breast-milk substitutes: National implementation of the International Code – Status report 2020”, provides updated information on the status of country implementation, including which measures have and have not been enacted into law.

Given the important role of health workers in protecting pregnant women, mothers and their infants from inappropriate promotion of breast-milk substitutes, the 2020 report provides an extensive analysis of legal measures taken to prohibit promotion of breast-milk substitutes to health workers and in health facilities.

Breastfeeding and COVID-19

Active COVID-19 virus has not, to date, been detected in the breastmilk of any mother with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, says the report. It appears unlikely, therefore, that COVID-19 would be transmitted through breastfeeding or by giving breastmilk that has been expressed by a mother who is confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19. Women with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 can, therefore, breastfeed if they wish to do so.

The report recommends:

* Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand rub and especially before touching the baby
* Wear a medical mask during any contact with the baby, including while feeding;
* Sneeze or cough into a tissue. Then dispose of it immediately and wash hands again;
* Routinely clean and disinfect surfaces after touching them.

Even if mothers do not have a medical mask, they should follow all the other infection prevention measures listed and continue breastfeeding, says the report.

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

New Delhi (NVI): India has become the seventh worst-affected country in the world index due to coronavirus pandemic, as the country continues to witness huge spike in the infected cases.

The total number of coronavirus cases in the country stands at 2,26,770 including 6,348 casualties, according to the Union Health Ministry.

In the last 24 hours, a record 9,851 new cases of coronavirus and 273 deaths have been reported in India, both being at a record high in a single day till now.

Maharashtra tops the country with the maximum number of coronavirus cases and has reported nearly 77,000 confirmed cases so far.

The first confirmed coronavirus case in India was reported in the state of Kerala on January 30. Since then, the virus has tightened its grip across the country.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 33

Andhra Pradesh- 4,223

Arunachal Pradesh- 42

Assam- 1,988

Bihar- 4,493

Chandigarh- 301

Chhattisgarh- 756

Dadar Nagar Haveli- 12

Delhi- 25,004

Gujarat- 18,584

Goa- 166

Haryana– 3,281

Himachal Pradesh- 383

Jammu and Kashmir- 3,142

Jharkhand- 793

Karnataka- 4,320

Kerala- 1,588

Ladakh- 90

Madhya Pradesh- 8,762

Maharashtra- 77,793

Manipur- 124

Meghalaya- 33

Mizoram- 17

Nagaland- 80

Odisha- 2,478

Puducherry- 82

Punjab- 2,415

Rajasthan- 9,862

Sikkim- 2

Tamil Nadu- 27,256

Telangana- 3,147

Tripura- 644

Uttarakhand- 1,153

Uttar Pradesh- 9,237

West Bengal – 6,876

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andhra Pradesh- 71

Assam- 4

Bihar- 29

Chandigarh- 5

Chhattisgarh- 2

Delhi- 650

Gujarat- 1,155

Haryana- 24

Himachal Pradesh- 5

Jammu and Kashmir- 35

Jharkhand- 6

Karnataka- 57

Kerala- 14

Ladakh- 1

Madhya Pradesh- 377

Maharashtra- 2,710

Meghalaya- 1

Odisha- 7

Puducherry- 1

Punjab- 47

Rajasthan- 213

Tamil Nadu- 220

Telangana- 105

Uttar Pradesh- 245

Uttarakhand- 10

West Bengal- 355

A total of 1,09,462 people have been cured or discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 1,10,960 active cases currently, according to the Health Ministry.

World Environment Day 2020 calls for urgent action to protect biodiversity

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The food we eat, the air we breathe, the sun rays that reach us and the water we drink every day, are all gifts from the environment and it becomes important that they are respected.

World Environment Day, which is celebrated every year on June 5, is one of the United Nations (UN) most important days celebrated worldwide to spread awareness on the protection of our environment.

According to the UN, the theme for the year 2020 is – ‘Celebrate Biodiversity’. Last year’s theme was ‘Air pollution’.

The theme reflects the context of biodiversity – which is important for the survival of all living things big or small, on land or in water, a concern that is both urgent and existential.

The day also raises awareness on emerging environmental issues from marine pollution, human overpopulation and global warming, to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime.

In 1974, the day was first celebrated with the theme “Only One Earth” during the first day of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment.

The major objective of this day every year is to spread awareness and to remind people that they have a role to play in preventing the loss of biodiversity and preserving nature for our future.

The Day is observed in over 100 countries and each year, it has a new theme that governments, corporations, communities, NGOs and celebrities adopt to advocate environmental causes.

Every year, World Environment Day is hosted by a different country, in which official celebrations take place. This year the day will be hosted in Colombia, in partnership with Germany.

“Recent events, from bushfires in Brazil, the United States and Australia to locust infestations across East Africa – and now, a global disease pandemic – demonstrates the interdependence of humans and the webs of life, in which they exist,” the UN said in a statement.

This year, millions of people will be celebrating digitally, worldwide due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of going to the field to plant saplings, countries are expected to conduct online activities to promote environmental protection and awareness.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted, “On World Environment Day, we reiterate our pledge to preserve our planet’s rich biodiversity. Let us collectively do whatever possible to ensure the flora and fauna, with whom we share the earth, thrive. May we leave an even better planet for the coming generations.”

He also shared a clip from his most recent Mann Ki Baat programme, in which he had referred to World Environment Day.

Coronavirus cases exceed 6.6 million worldwide

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): Around 6.6 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed around the world with more than 3,89,000 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

With more than 34,000 deaths, Brazil now has the third-highest toll in the world after it recorded nearly 1,400 fatalities in the last 24 hours. The total number of coronavirus cases have also surpassed 6,00,000 mark in the country with the tally being at 6,14,941.

In the US, more than 1.87 million confirmed cases have been reported including at least 1,08,000 deaths.

Meanwhile, Mexico has more than 1,05,600 total cases after 4,442 new infections were reported in a single day – its largest single-day increase to date.

Iran marked its highest daily jump since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak with 3,574 coronavirus cases. The figures marked the third consecutive day that the country recorded more than 3,000 daily new infections.

Turkey is set to impose a weekend curfew in 15 cities to curb the spread of the virus.

South Korea reported 39 new cases of the coronavirus over a 24-hour period, a continuation of an upward trend in new infections in the country. The new figures have took the country’s total to 11,668 cases, with 273 deaths.

China reported five new confirmed coronavirus cases, all of them brought by Chinese citizens from outside the country. China has reported a total of 4,634 deaths and 83,027 confirmed cases since the virus was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

On a positive note, Frank Bainimarama, the Prime Minister of Fiji, said all coronavirus patients in the Pacific island nation have now recovered.

India’s COVID tally crosses 2.26 lakh; death toll 6,348

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India now stands at 2,26,770, with 6,348 deaths due to the pandemic, Union Health Ministry said.

In the last 24 hours, 9,851 new cases of coronavirus and 273 deaths have been reported in India, both highest in a single day till now.

In the worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 77,793, followed by Tamil Nadu with 27,256 cases, and Delhi with 25,004 cases.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities at 2,710, followed by 11,55 in Gujarat and 377 in Madhya Pradesh.

The death toll in the national capital surged to 650 while another 9,898 patients have recovered so far, healthy ministry data shows.

Other states with high virus cases are Gujarat (18,584) Rajasthan (9,862), Uttar Pradesh (9,237) and Madhya Pradesh (8,762).

So far, 1,09,461 patients have been cured of the virus or discharged.

Meanwhile, the Centre issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to contain the spread of COVID-19 in shopping malls, places of worship and religious gatherings, which will come in effect from June 8.

Health Ministry issues SOPs for religious places, hotels, malls

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): No offerings at places of worship and disposable menu cards at food courts- these are among some of the guidelines that Union Health Ministry has issued ahead of the reopening of religious places, malls and restaurants in several parts of the country from June 8.

“This is an exhaustive list that must be followed to help in containing the spread of Covid-19. We are working on a few more guidelines that should be out in the coming days,” said Lav Agarwal, joint secretary, Union health ministry, yesterday.

The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have laid down list of do’s and don’tswhich has some common guidelines – physical distancing of at least six feet; mandatory use of face covers; frequent hand washing with soaps (for at least 40-60 seconds); use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers; and covering mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing.

In addition to this, those above 65 years, children below 10 years, persons with underlying health conditions and pregnant women have been advised to stay at home. People have been advised to install and use the Aarogya Setu app.

Guidelines for religious places:

Touching statues, idols, holy books etc. are not allowed. Large gatherings will continue to remain prohibited. Shoes or footwear to be preferably taken off inside their own vehicle.

Recorded devotional music and songs recommended, while inviting choirs or singing groups is not advisable.

Physical offerings such as prasad distribution or sprinkling of holy water are not allowed. Community kitchens/langars will have to follow social distancing.

Guidelines for hotels are:

The guidelines for hotels and hospitality units include thermal screening at the entry, proper crowd management on hotel premises and parking lots, disinfection of car steering, door handles and keys, separate entry and exits for guests, staff and goods/supplies if possible, restriction on the number of people on elevators and markings for social distancing.

Additionally, details of the guest like travel history, medical condition etc, along with an identity card and a self-declaration form must be provided at the reception.

For room service, communication between guests and in-house staff should be through intercom, and room service should be provided while maintaining adequate social distance.

While disposable menus are recommended, the guidelines favoured the use of good quality disposable paper napkins in place of cloth napkins.

Guidelines for shopping malls:

Only asymptomatic people will be allowed, with a staggered entry system. Any shops, stalls, cafeteria etc. outside and within the premises will have to follow social distancing norms. Gaming arcades, children’s play areas, and cinema halls will remain shut.

In food courts, the management will have to ensure adequate crowd management. Staff and waiters should wear masks and hand gloves. Seating arrangements should ensure social distancing. Contactless mode of ordering and digital mode of payment will be encouraged.

Guidelines for restaurants:

All directives for restaurants in hotels and food courts will be applicable. Also, just 50 per cent of the seating capacity of a restaurant must be utilised for dine-in customers. Also, specific markings should be made to manage queues and ensure social distancing when patrons are waiting for a table.

Terrorist killed in Rajouri gunfight, operation on: J&K Police

July 18 Shopian encounter: Army completes summary of evidence
An encounter site in Kashmir (File Pic)

Srinagar (NVI): A terrorist has been killed in an ongoing encounter that broke out this evening at Mehari village of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Rajouri and Poonch Range, Vivek Gupta said that on the basis of a specific input, a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched by Army’s Rashtriya Rifles and Police in Mehari area of Rajouri district of Jammu region.

“During the search operation, exchange of fire took place in which a militant has been killed,” DIG said. He said that the operation is going on and the entire area has been sealed.

He further informed that the identification of militant is being ascertained and a massive search operation is going on to ascertain the presence of any other militant in the area.

J&K records highest single-day spike with 285 new Covid-19 cases

Over 3,200 cops COVID positive in J&K and 15 succumbed to virus
File photo

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today witnessed the highest single-day spike in Covid-19 cases since the pandemic outbreak in the UT as 20 pregnant women, a journalist was among 285 positive cases reported today, taking the tally to 3,142.

Among the new 285 cases, 31 were tested positive at SKIMS, 135 at CD hospital, 19 at JVC Bemina, 57 at Army’s Command Hospital, Udhampur and rest at other hospitals. Officials said that among the 285 cases were 20 pregnant women and a journalist.

They said that among 285 new cases, 233 belong to Kashmir while 52 are from Jammu. The total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 2,407 including 888 recoveries and 31 deaths while the total number of positive cases in Jammu has reached 735 including 160 recoveries and four deaths.

They added that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 2059 including 1488 from Kashmir division and 571 from Jammu.

Cases tested positive in J&K include 27 from Anantnag, 49 from Kulgam, 25 from Srinagar, 5 from Budgam, 19 from Kupwara, 35 from Shopian, 29 from Baramulla, 15 from Bandipora, 14 from Pulwama and 4 from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while as 52 from Jammu division include 11 from Jammu, 4 from Poonch, 25 from Udhampur, 3 each from Kuthua, Doda, Reasi and Samba, 5 from Kishtiwar and six from Rajouri.

As per officials figures, 377 positive cases including five deaths and 155 recoveries are from Anantnag, 362 including four deaths and 50 recoveries are from Kulgam, 344 including eight deaths and 143 recoveries are from Srinagar, 318 including 82 recoveries and one death are from Kupwara, 301 including 104 recoveries and seven deaths are from Baramulla, 240 including 112 recoveries and three deaths are from Shopian, 176 including 136 recoveries and one death are from Bandipora, 129 including 67 recoveries and two deaths are from Budgam, 41 including 26 recoveries are from Ganderbal and 119 including 13 recoveries are from Pulwama.

In Jammu division, 178 including 52 recoveries and two deaths are from Jammu district, 153 including 16 recoveries are from Ramban, 83 including 28 recoveries are from Kathua, 97 including 29 recoveries and one death are from Udhampur, 51 including 21 recoveries from Samba, 63 with two recoveries are from Poonch, 46 including 05 recoveries are from Rajouri, 17 including 03 recoveries are from Reasi, 17 including 03 recoveries are from Kishtwar, 30 including 1 recovery and one death are from Doda.

As per the daily information bulletin, 197,350 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 42,195 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 2059 persons are in hospital isolation while as 38 persons are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 99,278 persons have completed surveillance period and 53,745 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 195,677 samples are available.

Out of 1,95,677, the number of samples tested negative stands at 192,535 while 3142 have been tested positive. Among the positive, 2059 are active and 1048 persons have recovered and 35 persons have died.

Russia declares state of emergency after major Arctic Circle oil spill

New Delhi (NVI): Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a state of emergency after 20,000 tons of diesel fuel spilled into a river in the country’s Arctic region.

The incident took place when a fuel tank at a power plant near the Siberian city of Norilsk collapsed last Friday, according to foreign media reports.

President Putin has ordered an investigation into the accident and a manager at the power plant has since been detained.

Satellite images after the leak showed crimson water in the Ambarnaya river and nearby residents posted videos on social media of the polluted water, reported The Moscow Times.

The plant is operated by a division of Nornickel, whose factories in the area have made the city of Norilsk one of the most heavily polluted places on Earth, according to The Guardian. Nornickel is a Russian nickel and palladium mining and smelting company.

“The incident led to catastrophic consequences and we will be seeing the repercussions for years to come,” Sergey Verkhovets, coordinator of Arctic projects for WWF Russia, said in a statement to the media. “We are talking about dead fish, polluted plumage of birds, and poisoned animals.”

Greenpeace has compared the disaster to the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.

The emergency declaration will increase resources for the cleanup. However, the river will be difficult to clean because it is too shallow for barges and in a remote area with few roads.

People of Gilgit-Baltistan up in arms against Pakistan

Locals are also angry over Pakistan’s move to send ‘tourists’ to the region amid Covid-19 fears (Source: Facebook/Awami Action Committee Gilgit Baltistan)

New Delhi (NVI): The people of Gilgit-Baltistan, a part of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, are up in arms against the Pakistani establishment over a number of issues, especially the shortage of food grains created by Islamabad amidst the coronavirus crisis.

To highlight their angst against Pakistan, Awami (People’s) Action Committee, a prominent organisation of Gilgit-Baltistan, has called for a general strike in the region tomorrow.

The strike has been called to protest against Pakistan’s decision to reduce wheat quota for Gilgit-Baltistan in the midst of coronavirus crisis. The strike has been called at a time when the locals are also angry over Pakistan’s move to send ‘tourists’ to the region as they fear the incoming people would bring coronavirus cases to the region.

The people of Gilgit-Baltistan are also agitated over the construction of Daimer Bhasha Dam in the region and want its royalties to be paid to the locals.

The Awami (people’s) Action Committee is an umbrella organisation, which includes several political and civil society organisations of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Pakistan has been desperately trying to suppress the activities of this organisation and silence its leaders and members by invoking draconian laws like Anti-Terrorism Act and preventing them from travel outside the region, without permission from local authorities of the Pakistani establishment. Most of the leaders and activists are imprisoned with false cases.

Infrastructure in the region has been in shambles for 70 years, lacking proper roads, railway, commercial airport, hospitals and universities.

The only hospital in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is the Combined Military Hospital, which is controlled and run by the military, with locals having no access. Local people have to walk long distances to reach a road from where sick persons can be transported to a government hospital in Rawalpindi. Many sick persons do not survive till then.

Similarly, anyone in Gilgit-Baltistan wanting to pursue higher studies has to go to Rawalpindi, Lahore or Karachi. In fact, one of the main reasons for backwardness of Gilgit-Baltistan is lack of quality educational institutions in PoJK.

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