9th NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Awards 2018
Dear Mr. Harsh Jaitly,
National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) is a non-profit voluntary organisation founded in 1996 working as an interface between various stakeholders – Government, Industry and Civil Society Organisations (both national and international) for the empowerment of persons with disabilities.
NCPEDP has long believed that accessibility is the bedrock of inclusion. However, it is not limited to just the physical space. It includes, among many others, transport infrastructure, information & technology, aids, and appliances. Access, therefore, is an issue that cuts across disabilities, sectors, abilities and age groups and forms the very basis of Empowerment! And, a concept that is intrinsic to any kind of access is ‘Universal Design’, which means a design that is usable to the greatest extent possible by everyone, regardless of age, ability, or situation.
Thus, to recognize exemplary and innovative work towards improved accessibility for persons with disabilities, incorporating principles of Universal Design, that NCPEDP with the support of Mphasis launched the ‘NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Awards’ in 2010.
2018 will see the ninth edition of the Awards which are given in 3 categories: Persons with Disabilities, Working Professionals, and Companies/Organisations.
The Awards cover accessibility in the following fields:
- Built Environment
2. Transport
3. Information and Communication Technology
4. Services
5. Aids and AppliancesWe have been tremendously motivated by the huge response that the Awards have received since their inception and this year, we look forward to seeing an even greater excitement!
The Concept Note along with the Nomination Forms is attached. We have also enclosed last year’s commemorative brochure for your reference.
We would appreciate if you could please nominate deserving candidates and also help us disseminate the documents further to relevant individuals/organisations in your mailing lists. The last date for sending nominations is Thursday, 31st May, 2018. Please send us your nominations at secretariat.ncpedp@gmail.com.
Your support will help us reach out to the maximum number of people, spreading awareness and identifying and sharing best practices on Universal Design and accessibility from across the country.
Your support will help us reach out to the maximum number of people, spreading awareness and identifying and sharing best practices on Universal Design and accessibility from across the country.
Warm regards,
Anwesha
—
- SHIVAKUMAR
Chartered Accountant
VK Illam, Gandhigram 624 302
Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu.
UN short of funding to help Rohingya
By Mutasim Billah
DHAKA, Bangladesh
Three UN agencies have warned that $794 million is needed to cover a shortfall in funding that will allow critical lifesaving work to proceed for Rohingya refugees before the monsoon season arrives.
In a joint press release on Tuesday, the heads of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and World Food Program (WFP) in Cox’s Bazar underscored the urgent need for more funding.
The Joint Response Appeal from all key agencies working on the Rohingya response in Cox’s Bazar has secured just 16 percent of a total $950 million needed for the response until the end of the year — leaving a $794 million shortfall.
The statement came as the humanitarian agencies announced the completion of the first new area of land being prepared to relocate families most at risk of landslides when the monsoon hits.
The work is part of a major joint initiative between IOM, UNHCR and WFP.
“With the monsoon season almost upon us, we will continue working urgently to prepare more land, coordinate services, secure vital access ways and ensure we are ready to respond to emergency situations when they arise,” said Manuel Marques Pereira, IOM’s Emergency Coordinator in Cox’s Bazar.
Kevin J. Allen, head of the UNHCR’s operations in Cox’s Bazar, said: “We’re very happy to be able to move to the next stage in this ambitious project, which has been a great example of inter-agency collaboration in support of the government of Bangladesh.”
“It will be a race against time to get everything ready so that the most vulnerable families at high risk of landslides and flooding can be moved to safety before the worst of the monsoon season gets underway,” he added.
Since Aug. 25, 2017, some 750,000 Rohingya, mostly children and women, have fled Myanmar when Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community, according to the Amnesty International, bringing the total number of Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar district to around 900,000.
The vast majority of the refugees are living under tarpaulins and in bamboo shelters on steep sandy slopes in the desperately overcrowded mega camp.
Across all the settlements, around 200,000 people have been identified as being at high risk of floods and landslides when Bangladesh’s notorious cyclone season and heavy monsoons hit in the coming weeks. The immediate priority is to try to relocate around 24,000 people at the highest risk of landslide disasters.
“Our priority is to ensure the safety of refugees during this critical time of year”, said Mohammad Abul Kalam, refugee relief and repatriation commissioner.
Japan provides funding to support Rohingya children
On Tuesday, UNICEF received $15.7 million in funding from Japan to support Rohingya children in Cox’s Bazar.
The grant will allow UNICEF and its partners to continue providing child protection, healthcare, safe drinking water and sanitation support to refugee children and women and their families.
Praising the much-needed support in the first six months of the crisis, UNICEF Bangladesh Representative Edouard Beigbeder said: “UNICEF Bangladesh is grateful to the government and people of Japan for their generous support during a time of immense crisis. With this new funding, we will be able to scale up our interventions to save more lives and continue with our ongoing support in providing safe drinking water and sanitation, healthcare to children, newborns, and pregnant mothers, and strengthen the resilience of the affected host population.”
UNICEF has appealed for $144.6 million in 2018 to respond to the refugee crisis in Cox’s Bazar. So far, it has 30 percent of the funding available against its 2018 appeal requirement. An additional $100.8 million is required to fully deliver on the response.
At least 9,000 Rohingya were killed in the Rakhine state from August 25 to September 24, according to Doctors Without Borders.
In a report published on Dec. 12, the global humanitarian organization said the deaths of 71.7 percent or 6,700 Rohingya were caused by violence. They include 730 children below the age of 5.
The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world’s most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.
The UN has documented mass gang rapes, killings — including of infants and young children — brutal beatings, and disappearances committed by security personnel. In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.
Tech Arbitration Critical For National International Disputes
May08, 2018 (C) Ravinder Singh ravinderinvent@gmail.com
There is rarely a match between Water Availability and Water Requirements in river basins. California drought period may last 5 years, next year get Record Floods.
In my lifetime Electricity Consumption has gone up 30 times. I was 5 years old in 1960 when my grandfather was first in a Punjab village to Switch from SUSTAINABLE extraction of ground water by Persian Wheel, introduced Diesel Powered Tube-well. Almost 25m are installed in India alone mostly Electric. Population too has increased from around 400m to 1300m already.
Groundwater reserves have depleted in Quantity, Quality & Accessibility.
World’s DEPENDENCE ON SURFACE WATER WHICH IS FLUCTUATING, PRODUCED IN ONE REGION CONSUMED IN ANOTHER is growing shall lead to CONFLICTS on Water Sharing.
World has to be prepared to Use Surface Waters Efficiently, Productively, Cooperatively & Equitably, Build Storages to Maximize Availability and avoid CONFLICTS. TECH-ARBITRATION OFFERS QUICK READY MADE OPTION FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION – AT LOW COST OR FREE BY NON PROFIT EXPERTS.
Recently at an event I observed that GOI doesn’t release data about water flows in Rivers, Canals, Water Supply Networks, Ground Water Monitoring Wells when there are ‘Automatic Gauges Installed and Working.’ In fact data for the entire country can be Uploaded from Daily average to every five minutes. [Data cost presently is almost free these days]
http://dms.iwmi.org/app/ – http://www.wri.org/blog/2015/06/global-tour-7-recent-droughts –https://gis.ncdc.noaa.gov/maps/ncei/drought/global
India is not subjected to Long Term Drought but is subjected toExtreme Drought & Floods situation frequently. In South India June2002 it was normal then for 4 months there was Monsoon Failure.Kaveri Basin states fought bitterly in Supreme Court – but soon October onwards there was Above Normal Rains. Delayed paddy transplanting or Switch to non-Paddy Crops in a Drought Period are obvious options.
The interactive Drought Map began with most horrible image – in January2001 over 50% area – 70% population of India experience worst IMAGINABLE DROUGHT. May2003 drought situation prevailed all over India, soon getting good monsoon rains in patches.
Similarly it was normal condition in June and in July-August 2010 world’s most destructive flood hit Pakistan – Flood moved from North to South over 30 days.
While developed countries USA, EU & Australia have adequate Dam Storage capacity – inadequate storages in Developing Countries LEADS to DROUGHT & FLOODS.
India is diverting just 20% water in its rivers – Pakistan 80% for all uses.
Ravinder Singh, Inventor & Consultant, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND PROJECTS
Y-77, Hauz Khas, ND -110016, India. Ph: 091- 8826415770, 9871056471, 9650421857
Ravinder Singh* is a WIPO awarded inventor specializing in Power, Transportation,
Quake M6.2 – hit HINDU KUSH REGION, AFGHANISTAN
| Magnitude | 6.2 |
| Date-Time |
|
| Location | 36.990N 71.369E |
| Depth | 111 km |
| Distances |
|
| Location Uncertainty | Horizontal: 6.0 km; Vertical 4.3 km |
Hungarian folk-tale SIMPLETON MISO
Dear All,
We are pleased to invite you for a dance theatre performance based on a Hungarian folk-tale SIMPLETON MISO conceptulised by Mr. Gabor Sziraky on Monday, 14th May 2018 at 7 pm at the India Habitat Centre.
With kind regards,
—————————— —–
HARLEEN AHLUWALIA
Senior PR & Marketing Officer
Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre,
Embassy of Hungary, New Delhi
Embassy of Hungary, New Delhi
2/50 M, Niti Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021
Tel: +91 11 2688 1135
Mob: +91 98100 40261
Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu Women undefeated
Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu Women undefeated at the 69th Junior National Basketball Championship for Men and Women in Ludhiana
Ludhiana, 8th May 2018: The 69th Junior National Basketball Championship for Men and Women is underway at the Ludhiana Basketball Academy, Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana from 7th May. The championship is being organised by Punjab Basketball Association under the aegis of the Basketball Federation of India.
Tamil Nadu girls and Punjab boys teams are the defending champions from the previous version of the event held in Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Day-2 Results:
Men:Group A:
U.P(Prasun 29 pts, Priyanshu 25 pts) bt T.N(Sangeeth 32 pts, Akash 22 pts) 130-116[35-32, 31-20, 31-34, 33-30]
Punjab(Princepal 19pts, Rajan 16 pts) bt Haryana(Vikrant 22pts) 86-41[27-07, 24-16, 19-06, 16-12]
Group B:
Delhi(Abhishek 18 pts, Aditya 11 pts) bt M.P(Animesh 16 pts, Harshavardhan 17 pts) 80-73[26-08, 17-22, 16-08, 21-35]
Rajasthan(Rajeev 29 pts, Sumeet 17 pts) bt Maharashtra(Tanay 29 pts, Faizan 17 pts) 92-74[18-05, 31-24, 22-26, 21-19]
Group C:
H.P(Sukvender 17 pts, Rahul 10 pts) bt Goa(Calvin 25 pts, Antonio 15 pts) 67-66[18-13, 13-12, 12-13, 24-28]
Telangana(Vigneshwar 16 pts, Dinesh 15 pts) bt Goa(Jeshua 09 pts) 56-19[13-05, 16-08, 20-01, 07-05]
Group D:
J&K(Sumit 31 ts, Gaurav 23 pts) bt Odisha(Suresh 19 pts) 80-73[15-22, 27-16, 24-14, 14-21]
Uttarakhand(Riyanshu 25 pts) bt Bihar(Dharmendra 13 pts) 54-31[26-07, 17-08, 6-5, 11-05]
Group F:
Karnataka(Pratyanshu 22 pts, Srujan 21 pts) bt Mizoram(Zonun Sanga 25 pts, Lalrinawma 21 pts) 84-82[24-23, 25-15, 24-14, 21-20]
W.B(Amrendra 19 pts) bt A.P(anikanta 11 pts, Sai Pavan 11 pts) 56-44[19-13, 13-07, 15-08, 09-16]
Women:
Group A:
Karnataka(Harshitha 23 pts, Aiswarya 15 pts, Sanjana 10 pts) bt Gujarat(Tavleen 10 pts, Tanisha 9 pts) 72-41[23-15, 25-11, 23-12, 01-03]
Group B:
Kerala(Sreekala 21 pts, Aparna 12 pts) bt Rajasthan(Neha 30 pts, Yashika 12 pts) 79-58[24-16, 13-15, 23-14, 19-13]
U.P(Vaishnavi 50 pts) bt Punjab(Rajandeep 18 pts, Sakshi 16 pts) 67-54[20-11, 12-13, 22-16, 13-14]
Group D:
Jharkhand(Anu 11 pts, Swarnalee 11 pts) bt Bihar(Harshee 05 pts, Kavya 4 pts) 37-13[13-02, 11-00, 10-06, 3-5]
Group E:
Weste Bengal(B. Das 18 pts, R. Mukherjee 8 pts) bt Chandigarh(Manjeet 08 pts, Shifali 06 pts) 44-25[06-02, 14-04, 10-15, 14-04]
Group F:
A.P.(Swatha 09 pts) bt Uttarakhand(Shruti 07 pts) 40-23[5-7, 5-2, 12-04, 18-10]
Telangana(Aryasree 20 pts) bt Odisha( Pragati 25 pts ) 61-48[16-15, 17-15, 8-8, 20-10]
Day-3 Morning Results:
Men:
Group A:
U.P(Tushal 28 pts, Priyanshu 24 pts) bt Haryana(Rampal 22 pts, Kapil 16 pts) 97-78[18-14, 28-13, 25-22, 26-29]
Group B:
Maharashtra(Suraj 24 pts, Faisal 17 pts) bt M.P(Uday Veer 15 pts, Harshwardhan 13 pts) 92-70[21-15, 25-15, 26-10, 20-30]
Kerala(Sejin 37 pts, ) bt Delhi(Nitish 22pts) 83-78[22-20, 22-24, 21-17, 18-17]
Women:
Group A:
T.N(Pushpa 13 pts) bt M.P(Asmat 09 pts) 60-29[16-05, 18-07, 10-13, 16-04]
Group B:
U.P(Vaishnavi 41 pts, Harshita 10 pts) bt Rajasthan(Ishika 26 pts, Yashika 15 pts) 89-61[21-10, 18-24, 26-17, 24-10]
GROUPINGS (MEN)
LEVEL – 1 LEVEL – 2
| GROUP “A” | GROUP “B” | GROUP “C” | GROUP “D” | GROUP “E” | GROUP “F” |
| PUNJAB | KERALA | TELANGANA | CHHATTISGARH | GUJARAT | WEST BENGAL |
| TAMIL NADU | RAJASTHAN | GOA | BIHAR | ASSAM | ANDHRA PRADESH |
| HARYANA | MAHARASHTRA | HIMACHAL PRADESH | JAMMU & KASHMIR | JHARKHAND | KARNATAKA |
| CHANDIGARH | DELHI | PUDUCHERRY | ODISHA | NAGALAND | MIZORAM |
| UTTAR PRADESH | MADHYA PRADESH | TRIPURA | UTTARAKHAND |
GROUPINGS (WOMEN)
LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2
| GROUP “A” | GROUP “B” | GROUP “C” | GROUP “D” | GROUP “E” | GROUP “F” |
| TAMIL NADU | UTTAR PRADESH | DELHI | HARYANA | CHANDIGARH | ODISHA |
| KARNATAKA | KERALA | GOA | BIHAR | ASSAM | ANDHRA PRADESH |
| CHHATTISGARH | PUNJAB | HIMACHAL
PRADESH
| JHARKHAND | PUDUCHERRY | TELANGANA |
| MADHYA PRADESH | MAHARASHTRA | WEST BENGAL | UTTARAKHAND | ||
| GUJARAT | RAJASTHAN |
Schedule
07.05.2018
Court – 1
| No | Team “A” | Vs | Team “B” | Group | Timing |
| L-1 | KERALA | Vs | MADHYA PRADESH | MB | 07.00 AM |
| L-2 | ANDHRA PRADESH | Vs | ODISHA | WF | 08.30 AM |
| L-3 | TAMIL NADU | Vs | CHANDIGARH | MA | 10.00 AM |
| L-4 | RAJASTHAN | Vs | DELHI | MB | 11.30 AM |
| L-5 | UTTAR PRADESH | Vs | MAHARASHTRA | WB | 01.00 PM |
| MATCHES COMMENCE AFTER INAUGURATION | |||||
| L-7 | PUNJAB | Vs | UTTAR PRADESH | MA | |
| L-8 | PUNJAB | Vs | RAJASTHAN | WB | |
| L-9 | TAMIL NADU | Vs | GUJARAT | WA | |
Court – 2
| No | Team “A” | Vs | Team “B” | Group | Timing |
| L-11 | HIMACHAL PRADESH | Vs | TRIPURA | MC | 07.00 AM |
| L-12 | TELANGANA | Vs | PUDUCHERRY | MC | 08.15 AM |
| MATCHES COMMENCE AFTER INAUGURATION | |||||
| L-13 | HARYANA | Vs | BIHAR | WD | |
| L-14 | CHANDIGARH | Vs | ASSAM | WE | |
| L-15 | DELHI | Vs | GOA | WC | |
Court – 3
| No | Team “A” | Vs | Team “B” | Group | Timing |
| L-18 | ODISHA | Vs | UTTARAKHAND | MD | 07.00 AM |
| L-19 | BIHAR | Vs | CHHATTISGARH | MD | 08.15 AM |
| MATCHES COMMENCE AFTER INAUGURATION | |||||
| L-16 | GUJARAT | Vs | NAGALAND | ME | |
| L-17 | TELANGANA | Vs | UTTARAKHAND | WF | |
| L-21 | WEST BENGAL | Vs | MIZORAM | MF | |
| L-10 | ASSAM | Vs | JHARKHAND | ME | |
Court – 4
| No | Team “A” | Vs | Team “B” | Group | Timing |
| L-6 | KARNATAKA | Vs | MADHYA PRADESH | WA | |
| L-22 | ANDHRA PRADESH | Vs | KARNATAKA | MF | |
| L-20 | PUDUCHERRY | Vs | WEST BENGAL | WE |
REVISED FIXTURE
08.05.2018
Court – 1
| No | Team “A” | Vs | Team “B” | Group | Timing |
| L-23 | DELHI | Vs | MADHYA PRADESH | MB | 07.00 AM |
| L-24 | MAHARASHTRA | Vs | RAJASTHAN | MB | 08.30 AM |
| L-25 | KERALA | Vs | RAJASTHAN | WB | 10.00 AM |
| L-26 | GUJARAT | Vs | KARNATAKA | WA | 11.30 AM |
| L-27 | UTTAR PRADESH | Vs | TAMIL NADU | MA | 01.00 PM |
| L-28 | MIZORAM | Vs | KARNATAKA | MF | 02.30 PM |
| L-29 | UTTAR PRADESH | Vs | PUNJAB | WB | 04.00 PM |
| L-30 | HARYANA | Vs | PUNJAB | MA | 05.30 PM |
| L-32 | CHHATTISGARH | Vs | TAMIL NADU | WA | 07.00 PM |
Court – 2
| No | Team “A” | Vs | Team “B” | Group | Timing |
| L-33 | GOA | Vs | HIMACHAL PRADESH | MC | 07.00 AM |
| L-34 | ASSAM | Vs | PUDUCHERRY | WE | 08.15 AM |
| L-35 | JHARKHAND | Vs | BIHAR | WD | 03.30 PM |
| L-36 | TELANGANA | Vs | GOA | MC | 04.45 PM |
| L-37 | ANDHRA PRADESH | Vs | UTTARAKHAND | WF | 06.00 PM |
| L-38 | JAMMU& KASHMIR | Vs | ODISHA | MD | 07.15 PM |
Court -4
| No | Team “A” | Vs | Team “B” | Group | Timing |
| L-40 | UTTARAKHAND | Vs | BIHAR | MD | 07.00 AM |
| L-41 | GOA | Vs | HIMACHAL PRADESH | WC | 08.15 AM |
| L-42 | TELANGANA | Vs | ODISHA | WF | 09.30 AM |
| L-45 | JHARKHAND | Vs | GUJARAT | ME | 10.45 AM |
| L-46 | NAGALAND | Vs | ASSAM | ME | 12.00 PM |
| L-39 | WEST BENGAL | Vs | ANDHRA PRADESH | MF | 02.00 PM |
| L-31 | CHANDIGARH | Vs | WEST BENGAL | WE | 03.15 PM |
| L-43 | CHHATTISGARH | Vs | UTTARAKHAND | MD | 04.30 PM |
| L-44 | HIMACHAL PRADESH | Vs | PUDUCHERRY | MC | 05.45 PM |
REVISED FIXTURE
09.05.2018
Court – 1
| No | Team “A” | Vs | Team “B” | Group | Timing |
| L-47 | CHHATTISGARH | Vs | ODISHA | MD | 07.00 AM |
| L-49 | UTTAR PRADESH | Vs | HARYANA | MA | 08.30 AM |
| L-50 | RAJASTHAN | Vs | UTTAR PRADESH | WB | 10.00 AM |
| L-51 | TAMIL NADU | Vs | MADHYA PRADESH | WA | 11.30 AM |
| L-52 | MAHARASHTRA | Vs | MADHYA PRADESH | MB | 01.00 PM |
| L-53 | KERALA | Vs | DELHI | MB | 02.30 PM |
| L-54 | CHHATTISGARH | Vs | GUJARAT | WA | 04.00 PM |
| L-55 | KERALA | Vs | MAHARASHTRA | WB | 05.30 PM |
| L-56 | PUNJAB | Vs | CHANDIGARH | MA | 07.00 PM |
Court – 3
| No | Team “A” | Vs | Team “B” | Group | Timing |
| L-57 | PUDUCHERRY | Vs | TRIPURA | MC | 07.00 AM |
| L-58 | ASSAM | Vs | GUJARAT | ME | 08.15 AM |
| L-59 | ANDHRA PRADESH | Vs | MIZORAM | MF | 03.30 PM |
| L-60 | HIMACHAL PRADESH | Vs | TELANGANA | MC | 04.45 PM |
| L-61 | TRIPURA | Vs | GOA | MC | 06.00 PM |
Court -4
| No | Team “A” | Vs | Team “B” | Group | Timing |
| L-64 | JAMMU & KASHMIR | Vs | UTTARAKHAND | MD | 07.00 AM |
| L-65 | NAGALAND | Vs | JHARKHAND | ME | 08.15 AM |
| L-66 | ODISHA | Vs | UTTARAKHAND | WF | 09.30 AM |
| L-67 | HIMACHAL PRADESH | Vs | DELHI | WC | 10.45 AM |
| L-68 | TELANGANA | Vs | ANDHRA PRADESH | WF | 12.00 PM |
| L-70 | WEST BENGAL | Vs | ASSAM | WE | 02.00 PM |
| L-63 | PUDUCHERRY | Vs | CHANDIGARH | WE | 03.15 PM |
| L-62 | HARYANA | Vs | JHARKHAND | WD | 04.30 PM |
| L-48 | KARNATAKA | Vs | WEST BENGAL | MF | 05.45 PM |
| L-69 | BIHAR | Vs | JAMMU & KASHMIR | MD | 07.00 PM |
On Mother’s Day, UNICEF calls for
On Mother’s Day, UNICEF calls for the narrowing of “breastfeeding gaps” between rich and poor worldwide
Despite the benefits of breastfeeding, 1 in 5 babies in high-income countries are not breastfed at all, compared to just 1 in 25 in low- and-middle-income countries
NEW YORK, 10 May 2018 – The number of babies missing out on breastfeeding remains high, particularly among the world’s richest countries, UNICEF said in a new analysis released today. Worldwide, approximately 7.6 million babies each year are not breastfed.
The analysis indicates that even though breastmilk saves lives, protects babies and mothers against deadly diseases, and leads to better IQ and educational outcomes, an estimated 21 per cent of babies in high-income countries are never breastfed. In low-and-middle-income countries, the rate is 4 per cent.
“Breastfeeding is the best gift a mother, rich or poor, can give her child, as well as herself,” said Shahida Azfar, UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director a.i. “As we celebrate Mother’s Day, we must give the world’s mothers the support they need to breastfeed.”
The analysis notes that babies are much more likely to be breastfed at least once in low- and-middle-income countries like Bhutan (99%), Madagascar (99%) and Peru (99%) than those born in Ireland (55%) the United States (74%) or Spain (77%) (see table). The United States alone accounts for more than one-third of the 2.6 million babies in high-income countries who were never breastfed.
However, within low-and-middle-income countries, wealth disparities affect how long a mother will continue to breastfeed her child, the data show. Babies from the poorest families have rates for breastfeeding at 2 years that are 1.5 times higher than those from the richest families. The gaps are widest in West and Central Africa and in Latin America and the Caribbean, where babies from the poorest families have breastfeeding rates at 2 years that are nearly double those from wealthier families.
Percentage of children age two years in low- and -middle-income countries who are breastfed, by wealth quintile and region*
“We know that wealthy mothers in poor countries are less likely to breastfeed, but somewhat paradoxically, we’re seeing indications that in wealthy countries, it’s the poor who are the least likely,” said Shahida Azfar, UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director a.i.” These breastfeeding gaps across income levels are a strong indication that countries, regardless of the level of wealth, are not informing and empowering every mother to breastfeed her baby.”
Factors leading to higher breastfeeding rates vary. Countries like India and Vietnam have put in place strong policies to protect and promote breastfeeding. Others like Turkmenistan have very high rates of mothers giving birth in baby-friendly hospitals**. Almost all mothers in New Zealand and Sri Lanka give birth at a baby-friendly facility. Additionally, cultural and political contexts, including support from fathers, families, employers and communities, play a decisive role.
Through its global campaign, Every Child ALIVE, which demands solutions on behalf of the world’s newborns, UNICEF urges governments, the private sector and civil society to:
- Increase funding and awareness to raise breastfeeding rates from birth through the age of two.
- Put in place strong legal measures to regulate the marketing of infant formula and other breastmilk substitutes as well as bottles and teats.
- Enact paid family leave and put in place workplace breastfeeding policies, including paid breastfeeding breaks.
- Implement the ten steps to successful breastfeeding in maternity facilities, and provide breastmilk for sick newborns.
- Ensure that mothers receive skilled breastfeeding counselling at health facilities and in the first week after delivery.
- Strengthen links between health facilities and communities, so that mothers are ensured of continued support for breastfeeding.
- Improve monitoring systems to track improvements in breastfeeding policies, programmes and practices.
On Mother’s Day, recognized in May in over 128 countries, Every Child ALIVE is celebrating mothers and babies and their right to be supported through pregnancy.
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