India's Children Are Healthier Than Before, But The New NFHS-6 Report Shows We're Not There Yet
India has made meaningful progress, but closing regional and socioeconomic gaps will be essential if every child is to receive an equal start in life.
Shammi
India's latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) offers encouraging news for child health, but it also highlights the work that still lies ahead.
The report reveals steady progress in areas such as childhood immunisation, antenatal care and postnatal services. At the same time, it raises concerns about declining exclusive breastfeeding rates, persistent undernutrition, widening health inequalities and a rise in overweight children in urban areas.
The Wins Worth Celebrating
More children are now receiving their full course of vaccinations, with immunisation coverage improving compared to the previous survey. Better antenatal care, institutional deliveries and postnatal check-ups also point towards improved maternal and newborn healthcare. Cases of diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections have declined, reflecting better vaccination coverage, sanitation and healthcare access.
Some Concerns Remain
One of the biggest concerns is the drop in exclusive breastfeeding among infants below six months. Experts suggest this may be linked to early return to work, limited maternity support, inadequate breastfeeding facilities at workplaces and insufficient postnatal guidance for new mothers.
The report also highlights India's continuing double burden of malnutrition. While undernutrition remains common among children in rural and tribal communities, childhood overweight is increasing in urban areas due to changing diets and sedentary lifestyles.
Why It Matters
Childhood health isn't shaped by healthcare alone. Nutrition, maternal education, sanitation, vaccination, family support and access to quality healthcare all work together to determine a child's long-term wellbeing.
NFHS-6 makes one thing clear: India has made meaningful progress, but closing regional and socioeconomic gaps will be essential if every child is to receive an equal start in life.