Rally to promote breastfeeding

PATNA: About 300 people participated in the rally organised jointly by the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI), Indian Pediatric Academy (IAP), Unicef and State Health Society to observe the first day of the World Week.
The participants spread awareness among people about breastfeeding specially within one hour of birth. This can save the lives of about 40,000 babies in Bihar and 2.5 lakh babies in the country, said zonal-cum-state co-ordinator of BPNI Dr Arun Kumar Thakur.Many volunteers, including students of Magadh Mahila College, also took part in the rally.
Bihar health Minister Chandramohan Rai flagged off the rally which started from Kargil Chowk and terminated at the JP roundabout. Members of the rally submitted a written petition to the health minister and chief minister Nitish Kumar to earmark a part of the health budget for promotion of breastfeeding in the state. Society executive director K P Ramaiah, who was also present at the rally, appreciated the efforts of members of BPNI, IAP and others to work for such a noble cause.
A nurses’ awareness programme was held at PMCH on the occasion in which about 100 nursing students and about 27 staff nurses participated. They were made aware about the importance of breastfeeding within the first hour of birth since most of the time the nurses are the first ones to come in contact with mothers after delivery said IAP secretary Dr Neelam Verma and added that colostrum which was secreted through mother’s milk immediately after birth was very nutritious for the child and saved him for many diseases, including jaundice.
The health minister formally inaugurated the one-week programme on Wednesday evening and said the government will provide help for promotion of breastfeeding and other such campaign. He also administered an oath to the people present on the occasion for the same cause. Rai added that companies which produced powdered milk had a big role in convincing mothers that breastfeeding was not necessary. Fashion and Western influence also contributed in disillusioning mothers, he added. Rai also awarded a lifetime achievement award to Dr S P Srivastava for his contribution in spreading awareness about breastfeeding. He also gave an award for excellence to Dr Manju Geeta Mishra, Dr Utpal Kant Singh and Dr Arun Thakur for their efforts in promoting breastfeeding. Dr Thakur said it was depressing to know that only four per cent of mothers in Bihar breastfed their babies within first hour of birth. He also said the state has to take more initiatives for promoting breastfeeding and infant nutrition which will save the lives of thousands of babies.