Patna: The Bihar government has announced plans to establish 328 breastfeeding corners across the state as part of a wider push to improve women’s and child health services.
The designated spaces will be set up in government hospitals and primary health centres, providing mothers with a clean, private and safe environment in which to breastfeed their babies. Health officials said the move was intended to address the discomfort many women experience due to the lack of suitable facilities in healthcare settings.
According to the state health department, breastfeeding corners have already been introduced in phases at all medical college hospitals, district hospitals and sub-divisional hospitals. The latest phase of the initiative will extend the facility to primary health centres across Bihar.
Each breastfeeding corner will be equipped with comfortable seating, adequate lighting and ventilation, and privacy arrangements. Access to drinking water and handwashing facilities will also be ensured, officials said.
Public health experts have long stressed that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life is critical for healthy growth and immunity. However, the absence of supportive infrastructure in hospitals and public spaces has often discouraged mothers from breastfeeding. Authorities believe the new facilities will offer both practical and psychological support, helping to improve breastfeeding rates.
The initiative aligns with the objectives of the National Nutrition Mission and existing maternal and child health programmes, health officials said. By promoting breastfeeding, the government aims to reduce infant malnutrition, strengthen early immunity and improve overall maternal health outcomes in the state.
