Health Ministry has said there has been a significant improvement in breastfeeding rates across the country and a programme has been launched to raise awareness about its benefits among the masses, especially mothers. In an official release, Health Ministry said, as per recent data, initial breastfeeding has been nearly doubled in last decade from 23 per cent in 2005-06 to around 42 per cent in 2015-16. <br/><br/>Breastfeeding is an important efficient and cost-effective intervention promoting child survival and health. Breastfeeding within an hour of birth could prevent 20 per cent of the newborn deaths. <br/><br/>Infants who are not breastfed are 15 times more likely to die from pnuemonia and 11 times more likely to die from diarrhoea than children who are exclusively breastfed. Breastfeeding Week is observed in the first week of August to focus attention on the promotion and support of breastfeeding. This year's theme is Sustaining Breastfeeding. <br/><br/>The Ministry has planned various activities at the national level during this week in association with Indian Academy of Pediatrics and the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital. ASHA workers are incentivised for reaching out to pregnant and lactating mothers and provide information on benefits and techniques of successful breastfeeding.