Centre has launched a nation-wide breast feeding programme MAA – Mothers' Absolute Affection. The goal of the programme is to enhance optimal breastfeeding practices. <br/><br/>MAA is an intensified programme of the Health Ministry for creating an enabling environment to ensure that mothers, husbands and families receive adequate information and support for promotion of breastfeeding. <br/><br/>The Ministry has allocated 30 crore rupees for the Programme and 4.3 lakh rupees for each district for implementing the various activities under MAA programme. <br/><br/>Launching the programme in New Delhi Friday, Health Minister J P Nadda said, the programme is a very cost effective and significant health intervention along with deworming programme. <br/><br/>He said, the practice of breastfeeding enhance immunity level in the child and it will greatly help to reduce the under five mortality of children.<br/>Breastfeeding is one of the important interventions for child survival. <br/><br/>Around 20 per cent newborn deaths and 13 per cent under-five deaths can be prevented by breastfeeding. <br/><br/>Besides this, breastfeeding can prevent child deaths associated with Diarrhoea and Pneumonia. <br/><br/>Infants who are not breastfed are 15 times more likely to die from pneumonia and 11 times more to die from diarrhea than children who are exclusively breastfed. Breastfed infant also have higher intelligence quotient.