Inauguration of World Breastfeeding Week 2024: “Closing the Gap” Focuses on Support for All Mothers

The Voice of Chandigarh :

World Breastfeeding Week 2024 was officially inaugurated by Dr. Suman Singh, Director of Health & Family Welfare for Chandigarh Administration, alongside prominent figures including the District Family Welfare Officer, Deputy Medical Superintendent, and various Programme Officers and Heads of Departments from Pediatrics. The theme for this year’s World Breastfeeding Week is “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support to All,” which focuses on creating a supportive and safe environment where mothers can breastfeed confidently and comfortably.

During the inauguration, Dr. Suman Singh unveiled a new poster detailing the Do’s and Don’ts of breastfeeding. This visual guide aims to educate and inform the public about best practices in breastfeeding.

Dr. Savita Rathi, Medical Officer from the Department of Pediatrics at GMSH-16, Chandigarh, took the opportunity to educate both new mothers and healthcare providers about several crucial aspects of breastfeeding. Her talk emphasized the importance of early initiation, correct breastfeeding techniques, and the benefits of colostrum. She also highlighted the role of expressed breast milk for working mothers and stressed the importance of adhering to the Infant Milk Substitutes (IMS) Act, which regulates the promotion of breast milk substitutes, commercial formula foods, and feeding equipment.

Dr. Singh acknowledged the diligent efforts of healthcare providers in the field and provided guidance on proper breastfeeding posture for both mother and child. She urged healthcare providers to begin this campaign with thorough counseling sessions for mothers, starting as early as the antenatal period, and to ensure that breastfeeding is initiated within the first hour of birth.

This week’s activities underscore the commitment to enhancing breastfeeding practices and support systems, with the goal of ensuring that every mother and child receives the best start possible.