'Mother's milk has no substitute'

ALLAHABAD: The district health department is celebrating the World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7) with an aim to encourage breastfeeding among mothers and improve the health of babies. A series of programmes will mark the week long event.
Dr SAM Meesum, paediatrician and assistant district programme officer, AIDS Control, Allahabad said the week commemorates the declaration made by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF in August 1990 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
He added that breastfeeding is the best way to provide newborn with the nutrients they need. Health officials recommend exclusive breastfeeding until a baby is six months old, and continued breastfeeding with the addition of nutritious complementary foods for up to two years or beyond.
The theme of World Breastfeeding Week this year is "Breastfeeding - a vital emergency response. Are you ready?". It highlights the need to protect, promote and support breastfeeding to make children healthy and strong.
Children are among the most vulnerable groups during emergencies, he said, adding that during emergencies, unsolicited or uncontrolled donations of breast-milk substitutes may undermine breastfeeding and should be avoided.
As part of emergency preparedness, hospitals and other health care services need to train health workers who can counsel new mothers on the importance of breastfeeding.
The doctor also slammed various advertisements and websites which display women breastfeeding their children. This, he added, demean women and lend a sexual connotation to breastfeeding.
Meanwhile, he informed that a seminar would be organised at the office of the chief medical officer on Tuesday in association with SAHIL where lactating mother would be invited with the help of ANM/Anganwadi and different NGOs to promote breastfeeding. The effort would aim to reduce high infant mortality rate in the district.