China calls for better infant care

BEIJING -- China has called for improving infant care in the country during its campaign for the International Day of Families this year, which falls on Wednesday.

The campaign is aimed at implementing the guideline released last week by the State Council to pool social contributions for infant care services, said Yu Xuejun, deputy head of the National Health Commission.

Yu said the government will mainly offer guidance and policy support for parents and other caregivers, increase support for communities to offer infant care services, and make infant care services more professional and regulated.

China now has about 50 million infants under the age of three. The number is expected to rise as the country has removed the one-child policy.

Yu said on another occasion Friday that China will train more infant care-related professionals.

In recent years, the Ministry of Education has set up majors on infant education as well as infant health and development in higher vocational schools, colleges and universities.