Step up for Breastfeeding: Educate and Support
Chandigarh, August 5, 2022:: World Breastfeeding Week is being celebrated at all health facilities of UT Chandigarh from 1st August to 7th August 2022 to strengthen the efforts for improving the breastfeeding practices. The purpose of World Breastfeeding Week is to promote breastfeeding with the theme “Step up for Breastfeeding: Educate and Support”
Breastfeeding is crucial for an infant’s proper growth and development. It is advised that mothers should exclusively breastfeed the child upto 6 months of age along with continued breastfeeding till 2 years or beyond. Breastfeeding within one hour allows the infant to receive the benefits of the mother’s colostrum, a nutrient filled fluid produce before milk is released, which can help boost the babies newly developing immune system and protect them from illness in their first few months.
At the facility level, pledge has been taken on 2nd August 2022 by all the health care workers for doing every effort in promotion and support of breastfeeding, especially the early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour after delivery. Certificate of appreciation are being distributed to proud mother who breastfed within one hour at all our delivery points. The posters, banners and written breastfeeding policy are displayed at prominent places of health facilities of UT Chandigarh for awareness generation. Dedicated breastfeeding corners have been made at all the health facilities for ensuring privacy of mothers during the breastfeeding. The sensitization of staff is being done regarding promotion and importance of breastfeeding on regular basis. Health Talks at antenatal and post-natal wards highlighting early initiation of breast feeding, right technique of breast feeding, advantages of breast feeding and discouraging pre lacteals and top feeds.
At the community level, home Based Care of Newborn (HBNC) visits are done by ANM posted at all health facilities of UT Chandigarh. The focus is on promotion of breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices in convergence with Social Welfare Department of Women and child Development. The one to one counselling with mothers is done during all the opportunities available at different community platforms- such as modified UHNDs, home visits under HBNC and HBYC, ANC/PNC visits and other health programme.
