BeyondHeadlines News Desk
RANCHI, (Jharkhand) : Department of Social Welfare, Women & Child Development, Govt. of Jharkhand in convergence with the Health Department is launching a week long campaign during the Breastfeeding Week (August 1 – 7) in all 38,000 anganwadi centres covering 16 lakh lactating mothers and about 8 lakh pregnant women.
Mridula Sinha, Principal Secretary, Department of Social Welfare, Women & Child Development said, “A week long campaign during the World Breastfeeding Week (1 – 7 August) will be launched with the godh bharai function during the village health and nutrition day in all anganwadis. During the godh bharai function pregnant mothers of 7-9 months in the villages will be presented with a plate full of nutritious food including green vegetables, lentil and potato, to highlight the importance of nutritious food during pregnancy. Pregnant women and lactating mothers will be counseled on birth preparedness, need for rest and care during pregnancy and breastfeeding practices. Breastfeeding is the most natural, low technology and low cost intervention for saving children’s lives. It is the also an important intervention under the Jeevan Asha programme and can help break the cycle of malnutrition.”
Ms. Sinha also highlighted the role of the family and the wider circle of trained health workers, lactation consultants, community leaders, workplace and government/legislation – circle of support – that can potentially influences on a mother’s decision to breastfeed and to have a positive breastfeeding experience. She said, “To support breastfeeding mothers there is a provision for crèches under NREGA and also in the Anganwadi and mini anganwadi centres. Our stress will be on generating demand for these services and we are working on the relevant legal provisions and policy change.”
Deepika Sharma, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF said, “The prevalence of Initial breast-feeding practice within one hour (38% as per AHS 2011) and exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months of the child’s life (46% as per AHS 2011) is low in the state. There are certain misplaced beliefs and practices around breastfeeding in the family and community, which adversely impact the health of children. Breastfeeding has many benefits for the mother as well. It delays next pregnancy, reduces the prevalence of breast and cervical cancer and also helps new mothers lose weight and regain shape.”
She added, “Breast milk is the ideal nourishment for infant survival, growth and development. It contains disease-fighting substances and vitamins that support the body’s natural immune system. Breastfeeding stimulates the infant’s immune system and protects them from diarrhea and acute respiratory infection. Breast milk is critical for development of the infant’s brain and also cognitive and visual development. Breast fed babies have 5-8 IQ points higher than milk powder fed babies.”
Mr. Rajiv Ranjan, Assistant Director, Department of Social Welfare shared the schedule of this week long campaign which has been organised in convergence with the health department with ICDS being the nodal agency. He said, “The campaign begins on August 1 with the Godh Bharai function in the anganwadi centres on the village health and nutrition day. August 2 will be celebrated as wazan diwas when the growth of children between 0-5 years will be monitored. On August 3, pregnant women and lactating mothers will be advised on early initiation of breastfeeding (colostrum feeding) and exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a baby’s life. This will be followed by upari aahar diwas on August 5 when women will be counseled on initiation of complementary feeding starting at 6 months with continued breastfeeding for two years. Different recipes cooked from nutritious, locally available vegetables will be shared with the women. infants who have completed 6 months will be given their first cooked meal in the anganwadi centre.”
On 6 August, hath dhulai diwas will be celebrated in the anganwadi centre and mothers oriented on the importance of hygiene and sanitation for a child’s health. On the last day of the campaign, mothers will be given information on newborn care and health”, he concluded.
Dr. Sahu, Director Social Welfare also attended the media briefing and stressed on the importance of breastfeeding for both mother and child.
