‘Don’t miss this opportunity’ campaign to start breastfeeding in children on time
Raipur, 27 July 2022
Like every year, this year also the first week of August will be celebrated as ‘World Breastfeeding Week’. During this, efforts will be made to promote breastfeeding among pregnant and lactating women, protect infants and young children from disease and malnutrition and reduce infant mortality. For this, several programs of public awareness will be organized jointly by the Department of Health and Women and Child Development from August 1 to 7. During this, the selection of healthy children in Anganwadi centers will also be rewarded to their mothers.
The theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2022 is ‘Step up for Breastfeeding Education and Support’. There has been a decline in the “Early Initiation of Breastfeeding” rate in the state in the year 2020-21 as compared to the year 2015-16, for which a campaign will be launched under the tagline ‘Yeh Mauka Chhote Na’. The aim of World Breastfeeding Week is to raise awareness about breastfeeding among pregnant and lactating women, as it is important for the health of mothers as well as babies.
The responsibility of breastfeeding for the good health of the child lies with the mother as well as the family and mainly the father. An important role is played by the father by taking care of the mother of the child, encouraging the mother to spend more time with the child and to breastfeed properly, etc.
During the week, various programs like workshop, exhibition, film show, discussion will be organized at district, block and village level to make the importance of breastfeeding accessible to the people. In which women’s groups including public representatives along with field staff of Women and Child Development and Health Department and more and more women will be included. Important messages related to breastfeeding will be disseminated through slogan writing, wall writing, poster-banner at Anganwadi and village level and quiz will be organized in small groups for public awareness. During this, the nutritional level of babies below one year will be assessed and vaccines will be given. Mothers will also be given information related to breastfeeding, proper nutrition of babies, proper care and health by offering home.
