01/08/2024
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=mchgandhinagargmc&set=a.809408127966928
World breast feeding week wef 1st to 7th august 2024 was initiated at maternity hospital Gandhinagar Govt medical college Jammu wherein the main programme under directions of Dr Ashutosh Gupta Principal & Dean GMC & AH’s Jammu was organized by Dept of Pediatrics (Neonatology) and Obstetrics & Gynecology, Dr Swarn Gupta Proff Gynae & Obstet, Dr Ashu Jamwal proff Paediatrics, Dr Arun Sharma MS Maternity hospital Gandhinagar GMC Jammu, Dr Aneesh Uppal Consultant Paediatrics, Dr Jaspreet Singh Neonatologist, other consultants, PG’s, Registrars, doctors, staff of MCH Gandhinagar, nursing students attendants of patients, mothers admitted in the hospital were present on the occasion. Obstetrician and gynaecologist and paediatricians from Govt Hospital Gandhinagar (Health) were also invited as guests.
Dr Megha wattal PG Paediatrics managed the stage. Dr Swarn Gupta Proff Gynae & Obstet gave her opening remarks followed by Dr Ashu Jamwal Proff Paediatrics. Dr Jaspreet singh Neonatologist Maternity Hospital Gandhinagar GMC Jammu from Dept of Paediatrics gave a detailed information on Breastfeeding. Dr Kanak Pandita consultant obstet & gynae also gave a presentation on gynaecological problems related to breast feeding and their solutions.
Dr Arun Sharma presented vote of thanks and informed all that world breastfeeding week will be celebrated in Maternity Hospital Gandhinagar GMC Jammu for 7 days wherein PG Students, nursing students will participate by daily educating the mothers coming to OPD, Admitted in ward and public at large plus 7 days street plays, poster competition, rangoli, seminars and awareness of public will be done by various activities.
A cake cutting ceremony was also organized wherein breast feeding mothers were asked to cut the cake for distribution to all attendants, mothers, nursing students and staff.
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year across the world from August 1 — August 7. This global campaign aims to raise awareness about breastfeeding and its advantages. Following a surge in the infant mortality rate due to a drop in the number of mothers who wanted to breastfeed, the initiative became essential. While everyone has the right to make their own decisions, breastfeeding is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) until a child turns two.
The World Breastfeeding Week is considered one of the largest joint campaigns undertaken by international organizations such as The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. Organized by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), it aims to promote the benefits of breastfeeding. World Breastfeeding Week has been celebrated since 1992 and includes annual themes such as healthcare systems and women. In 2016, the week aligned its mission with the Sustainable Development Goals (S.D.G.s) and began promoting various strategies to encourage breastfeeding. During the week, all communication platforms inform people on the issue and the interesting history surrounding breastfeeding that many are unaware of.
In ancient Greece, the milk of a Greek goddess was thought to have special powers such as immortality? For instance, according to Greek mythology, Hera’s breast milk made Hercules invincible; it also formed the Milky Way. However, with time the popularity of breastfeeding drastically decreased, and women began turning to animal milk. In 15th-century Europe, cow’s or goat’s milk were often used but were considered lacking as they affected the health of the child. Later in the 18th century, flour or cereal mixed with broth was introduced as a breastmilk substitute. This too proved ineffective, and the search for alternatives for breast milk continued as many women were unable to produce milk naturally and needed another feeding option for their infants.
By the 19th century, infant formulas entered the market, and many women abandoned traditional breastfeeding. In the early 20th century, breastfeeding was even viewed negatively in several countries — that is, until doctors pointed out the effects of a lack of breast milk on a child. In the 1960s, breastfeeding experienced a revival and is promoted world-over even today.
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods for up to 2 years and beyond, provides an infant the best start possible to life. Breast-milk is safe and clean, and provides the energy and nutrients an infant needs for the first few months of life. It continues to provide up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year. Early initiation of breastfeeding, within one hour of birth, protects the newborn from infectious and chronic diseases, and reduces newborn mortality. It facilitates emotional bonding of mother and baby and has a positive impact on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. In the South-East Asia Region, rates for the early initiation of breastfeeding vary, from a high of 89% to a low of 42%.
WHO continues to support countries of the Region to strengthen capacity to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, in line with the Region’s Flagship Priorities on achieving universal health coverage, preventing and controlling noncommunicable diseases, and accelerating reductions of maternal, newborn and child mortality. By 2018 approximately 54% of all infants in the Region were exclusively breastfed up to the age of 6 months, up from 47% in 2015, and above the global target of ensuring that by 2025 at least 50% of newborns are exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life. However, between 2016–2017, just 5% of births in the Region occurred in health facilities that were implementing the WHO and UNICEF-developed Baby-friendly hospital initiative (BFHI). The BFHI aims to institutionalize breastfeeding within health care systems, with a focus on implementing the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and promoting uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact, rooming-in and kangaroo mother care, all of which significantly reduce newborn morbidity and improve survival.
WHO has identified several ways for countries of the Region to accelerate progress to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, leaving no woman, newborn or child behind. First, policy makers can implement and better enforce the Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes, which among other priorities, aims to limit promotion of breast-milk substitutes among health workers and in health care settings. Second, health and community leaders can increase awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding, with a focus on early initiation and continued on-demand breastfeeding for at least the first 2 years of life. Third, health facility administrators and health workers can better anticipate and respond to the needs of mothers and infants, for example by strengthening breastfeeding counselling in pre-conception and antenatal care programmes, and by fully implementing baby-friendly practices and integrating them into quality control standards. Fourth, health, political, community and business leaders can support implementation of family-friendly policies that enable breastfeeding, such as paid maternity leave for at least 6 months, and gender-equitable social protection.
Breastfeeding is a natural act, but it is also a learned behaviour. All mothers in the Region must be supported to initiate breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth, within the first hour after delivery, and should receive practical support to enable them to establish breastfeeding and manage common breastfeeding difficulties. Breastfeeding is a powerful tool in the Region’s ongoing efforts to manage the double burden of malnutrition, and will help reduce women’s risk of ovarian and breast cancer. It is a universal solution that gives everyone a fair start to life, and which lays the foundation for good health and survival of children and women. At the beginning of World Breastfeeding Week, WHO reiterates its commitment to support all countries of the Region to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, for a South-East Asia Region in which every newborn and child survives and thrives.
