Kolkata: Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is universally recognised as essential for an infant’s optimal growth, development, and immunity. Complementary feeding should begin after six months, while breastfeeding may be continued up to two years or beyond with an adequate, diverse, and age-appropriate diet. However, despite clear guidelines, the reality in hospitals and homes across India often differs.
According to the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data, around 63.7% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed. While this reflects an improvement over previous years, a significant number of infants still receive water and other supplementary feeds prematurely, which can compromise optimal nutrition and immunity.
Against this backdrop, the 63rd National Conference of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (PEDIACON 2026) is currently being held in Kolkata. One of the key themes of this prestigious national conference is mass awareness on breastfeeding practices and structured training of paediatric nurses to improve infant and child health outcomes.
As part of this initiative, the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) officially unveiled its Action Plan 2026, marking the launch of a flagship Presidential Initiative — the INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) Training of Trainers (TOT) Workshop, under the leadership of IAP President Dr. Neelam Mohan.
The IAP Action Plan – INSPIRE Module is a national initiative aimed at standardising paediatric nursing responses across India, ensuring early recognition of sick children, timely life-saving interventions, and safer paediatric care nationwide. Under this programme, each IAP State and City Branch will be encouraged to conduct three to six INSPIRE workshops annually, collectively training nearly 5,000 paediatric nurses every year.
The INSPIRE workshops focus on:
- Early recognition of the sick child
- Prompt resuscitation
- Appropriate escalation of care
The INSPIRE programme is being led nationally by Dr. Jesal Sheth (Mumbai), with Dr. Agnimita Giri (Kolkata) serving as the Local Coordinator. The core team also includes Dr. Muthiah Perikrupan, Dr. Poonam Joshi, Dr. Manju Kedarnath, along with senior nursing officers. Trainers from across the country have assembled in Kolkata, united by a shared mission to elevate paediatric nursing standards and enhance child safety across India.
In alignment with this action plan, a Workshop on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) was held at ESI MB Scheme Hospital, Salt Lake. The inaugural ceremony was graced by Dr. Neelam Mohan, President, IAP; Dr. Swapan Roy, Organising Chairperson, PEDIACON 2026; Dr. Atanu Bhadro, Organising Secretary, PEDIACON; Shri Tanmay Chakraborty, Director, ESI MB Scheme and Dr. Amit Bhattacharya, Deputy Director (Medical), along with several renowned paediatricians from across the country.
The dignitaries addressed the press, reiterating the critical importance of exclusive breastfeeding, timely complementary feeding, and empowered paediatric nursing care in ensuring a healthier future for India’s children.
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