World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), held in the first week of August every year, is a global campaign supported by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF and many Ministries of Health and civil society partners on the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding. This initiative was started in 1992 to encourage mothers to breastfeed their children and build a support community for new mothers who face any difficulties in breastfeeding.

Why Did We Need An Awareness Week?

Gynaecologist, obstetrician and founder of Baby Soon Fertility and IVF Center, Dr Jyoti Bali with 26 years of experience says, “A reason why some mothers stopped breastfeeding was because of the increased marketing of formula as a convenient solution compared to breastfeeding.”

Experts agree that women undergo physical changes in their bodies during their pregnancy and while breastfeeding too, however, these have been exaggerated. “Breastfeeding can lead to temporary changes in breast size and shape, but these changes are typically normal and revert to baseline after weaning. Perceptions about breastfeeding causing long-term body changes are often unscientific or exaggerated,” says Dr Rao.

These were some of the reasons why women stopped breastfeeding and thus an initiative like World Breastfeeding Week was started. This also aims to highlight the health benefits to the mother and the child on breastfeeding.

Benefits of Breastfeeding on Mother

Rao says that for the mother, it helps in faster postpartum recovery, reduces the risk of certain cancers, and can help with postpartum weight loss.

“Breast Feeding helps the mothers to shed their pregnancy weight more quickly because the production of milk requires the burning of calories,” agrees Dr Bali.

Other health benefits to mothers are postpartum healing, bonding with the baby and a decrease in the risk of ovarian cancer, mentions Dr Bali.

Breastfeeding Benefits on Baby

There are also nutritional values that help a preterm baby in his or her development. “For example, breast milk's higher protein content makes it easier for premature babies to absorb and digest than formula, which encourages better weight gain. Premature babies often have specific nutritional needs due to their early birth. Breast milk provides a tailored balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates that support their rapid growth and development. The composition of breast milk adjusts to meet the changing needs of a preterm infant, including higher levels of certain nutrients,” says Dr Goel.

Dr Bali also points out that breast milk contains antibodies, probiotics and DHA and ARA, a kind of fatty acids that are required for brain development. Thus, a baby can benefit a great deal from breastfeeding.

Health Risks When Not Breastfeeding

Poor breastfeeding practices in infancy and early childhood, resulting in malnutrition, contribute to impaired cognitive and social development, poor school performance and reduced productivity in later life.

Sarwa points out that psychological factors like stress, anxiety, postpartum depression, poor latch due to anatomical issues or improper positioning, and other medical conditions are the common reasons for this. “Identification and management of the specific cause, appropriate counselling by a healthcare provider, support (emotional and workplace both) and alternative feeding options,” he says.

Unable To Breastfeed Your Child? Here is What You Can Do

Do not be worried about its safety, Dr Rao says that donated milk is screened, pasteurised, and distributed to ensure safety and nutrition.

Are You a Working Mother?

“Purchasing a superior electric breast pump can increase the effectiveness of the procedure. Maintaining a consistent pumping schedule—ideally, every three to four hours—helps keep the milk supply steady. Pumped milk can be refrigerated for up to four days if stored in sterile containers or bags that have been labelled with the date and time. Milk can be frozen and thawed for extended storage,” suggests Dr Goel.

Bone marrow transplant (BMT), also known as hematopoietic stem cell transplant, is regarded as a lifesaving and even curative therapy. It is important to note that no surgery is required; rather, stem cells are transfused from a bag, like a blood transfusion.

BMT has revolutionized the treatment of several severe pediatric disorders, including thalassemia major, severe aplastic anemia, immunodeficiency disorders, high-risk blood cancers, and certain neurological and metabolic disorders such as metachromatic leukodystrophy and mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS). Despite major progress in transplant science, many still see BMT as a last resort. This can have a high effect on the survival rate, recovery process, and overall quality of life.

Why Are Bone Marrow Transplants Delayed?

One big reason for postponing transplant decisions is the belief that BMT should only be considered after all standard therapies have failed. There is also limited awareness about the excellent outcomes and curative potential of BMT in many benign pediatric disorders when performed early.

Children often go through repeated chemotherapy cycles, frequent blood transfusions, or long-term supportive care before anyone seriously discusses transplant. While this therapy may help in stabilizing the condition temporarily, it can cause lasting damage to the organs, increase the risk of infections, and affect the immune system, making transplant surgeries risky and less successful.

Delays Can Reduce Success Of Transplant

For instance, in children with thalassemia major, years of blood transfusions can lead to iron overload, which harms the heart and liver, reducing their ability to handle intense transplant conditioning. Likewise, in diseases like MPS, metachromatic leukodystrophy, where the disease has progressed, role of BMT becomes guarded.

Why Early Referral And Timely Treatment Matters

In addition to medical hesitation, systemic and emotional barriers also cause delays. The long-standing belief that a fully matched donor is essential has also changed significantly, with recent years witnessing remarkable growth and success in haploidentical (half-matched) donor BMTs. There are challenges related to awareness and affordability in India. The fear of risks such as graft-versus-host disease, infection, or death from transplant surgery results in parents adopting a "wait and see" attitude until their child’s health deteriorates further.

It is ironic that lack of awareness and accessibility to pediatric bone marrow transplant specialists are also among the factors that can cause delay in proper diagnosis and referral. Yet, the wait could put the children’s lives at greater risk due to the damage caused by chemotherapy and other forms of treatment.

Modern medical professionals emphasize that BMT does not have to be used only as a “last resort” treatment but can be administered in a timely manner to provide a cure for the patient.

Preeclampsia is a life-threatening pregnancy complication that is completely preventable and treatable if identified at an early stage. Yet the condition, majorly characterized by high blood pressure in pregnant women, remains the third leading cause of maternal deaths in India, said an expert from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, today.

Marking World Preeclampsia Day, observed annually on May 22, Dr. Neena Malhotra, Professor and Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at AIIMS, highlighted the urgent need for early screening and awareness around preeclampsia.

“Preeclampsia is a serious disease. But it has a solution. Preeclampsia is a disease that we can identify very easily and quickly. We can stop it and treat it,” she said, lamenting that even today, women are suffering from the condition and are at an increased risk of death or morbidity due to it.

Dr. Neena stated that India has made major progress in reducing maternal mortality, yet preeclampsia continues to remain a serious challenge in the country.

“Our country’s mortality rate is around 90 per 100,000 live births, which is a significant achievement. However, preeclampsia is one disease we have still not been able to fully control,” she said.

Dr. Malhotra said an estimated 2 to 4 lakh women develop preeclampsia every year in India, making it one of the leading causes of maternal mortality after hemorrhage and infection.

She warned that severe preeclampsia can lead to:

• Brain hemorrhage
• Seizures
• Pulmonary edema
• Kidney failure
• Liver damage
• Sudden collapse

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What Is Preeclampsia? How To Identify?

Dr. Neena explained that preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related condition marked by high blood pressure and organ involvement, usually after 20–24 weeks of pregnancy. She noted that the condition can be identified through blood pressure monitoring and urine testing for protein.

She said common symptoms include swelling of the feet, stomach, and hands, while severe cases may present with severe headaches and epigastric pain.

“There are often no early symptoms, which is why screening during the first trimester becomes very important,” she added.

The expert said the high-risk pregnancy condition can be identified using Doppler ultrasound screening, blood tests, and gestosis scoring systems during the 13th or 14th week of pregnancy.

Women at greater risk include those with:

• High blood pressure
• Twin pregnancies
• Diabetes
• Autoimmune disorders
• Advanced maternal age
• Genetic predisposition

She also noted that women living at high altitudes and environmental factors may contribute to increased risk.

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Preeclampsia: The Importance of Early Screening

Dr. Malhotra stressed that early identification can significantly reduce severe complications.

“If 100 women are at risk of developing preeclampsia, low-dose aspirin under medical supervision can help prevent severe disease in nearly 90 women,” she said.

However, she cautioned women against self-medication and advised that aspirin should only be started after proper medical screening and consultation.

Preeclampsia: Impact On Babies

Preeclampsia can also severely affect babies, leading to:

• Low birth weight
• Growth restriction
• Premature birth
• Stillbirth

Awareness At Grassroots Level Crucial

Highlighting the role of grassroots healthcare workers, Dr. Malhotra said ANMs and primary healthcare workers must educate pregnant women about the importance of regular blood pressure monitoring.

She added that awareness and early identification remain the strongest tools to reduce deaths linked to preeclampsia in India.

Childhood myopia is emerging as a major public health concern in India, and is beyond the need for spectacles, said health experts from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

Myopia or nearsightedness is a common vision condition where close-up objects appear clear, but distant objects look blurry.

Recent estimates suggest that by 2050, nearly half of the global population may be affected by myopia. In India, prevalence rates among school-going children have risen sharply over the years, with urban studies indicating nearly 14 per cent prevalence, while rural regions have witnessed a rise from 4.6 per cent to 6.8 per cent over the past decade.

“Childhood myopia is no longer just about children needing spectacles earlier in life; it is increasingly becoming a serious long-term eye health concern," said Dr Jeewan Singh Titiyal, President of All India Institute of Medical Sciences Rajkot (AIIMS Rajkot).

High myopia can:

• permanently alter the structure of the eye,
• significantly increase the risk of retinal detachment,
• lead to glaucoma,
• cause cataract,
• lead to irreversible vision loss later in life.

“Combating childhood myopia requires a collective effort involving families, schools, healthcare systems, and policymakers. School environments must encourage outdoor exposure and healthier visual habits, while parents need to monitor screen dependency and ensure balanced lifestyles,” said Dr Rohit Saxena, Senior Pediatric Ophthalmologist, RP Singh AIIMS, New Delhi.

New Myopia Prevention Guidelines

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In response to the alarming rise in childhood myopia across India and globally, the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) has released a comprehensive Consensus Guideline on “Prevention and Management of Childhood Myopia” as part of World Myopia Week 2026, held from May 18 to 24.

Dr Rohit, who is also the Program Director – Myopia Guideline, urged ensuring that adequate sleep, nutrition, and physical activity are not compromised.

“Early diagnosis and timely management can significantly improve outcomes and help protect children from avoidable visual impairment and future sight-threatening complications,” he said.

Dr Jeewan, also the President of AIOS, added that, unfortunately, many children fail to report blurred vision because they do not realize what normal sight should feel like.

The experts attribute the surge in childhood myopia to lifestyle changes accelerated over recent years, including prolonged screen exposure, increasing academic pressure, reduced outdoor activity, and extended periods of near work.

The transition toward digital learning environments has further contributed to children spending 4–6 hours or more daily on screens, often with inadequate visual hygiene practices.

The AIOS Guidelines And The 20-20-20 Rule

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The new recommendations reinforce the importance of the widely advocated 20-20-20 rule, encouraging children to take a 20-second break every 20 minutes and focus on an object 20 feet away to reduce eye strain.

The newly released AIOS guidelines also strongly emphasize preventive strategies, including:

• annual eye examinations,
• school vision screenings,
• limiting recreational screen time,
• maintaining appropriate reading distance,
• ensuring adequate lighting during study,
• encouraging children to spend at least two hours outdoors daily.

“The prevention and management of childhood myopia require a shift from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. Environmental factors such as prolonged near work, excessive digital exposure, and reduced outdoor time are modifiable risks that demand immediate societal attention," said Dr Namrata Sharma, Professor of Ophthalmology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi.

The guidelines also provide insights into currently available myopia control interventions, including:

• atropine eye drops,
• specialized myopia control spectacles,
• orthokeratology,
• soft multifocal contact lenses.