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VARANASI: In a bid to raise awareness and promote breastfeeding in rural areas of the district, the Centre for Population, Education, Research and Extension (CPERE), department of Community Medicine, BHU, organised a week-long programme at various centres of the villages under Kashi Vidyapeeth block to mark the World Breastfeeding Week. The programme concluded on Saturday.
As per Prof RK Srivastava, head, department of Community Medicine, BHU, a number of programmes were organised in various villages including Nasirpur, Tikri, Gajadharpur, Misirpur, Madaon and Karsara under the block to highlight the significance of breastfeeding, especially during first six months of delivery.He also emphasised that the mother could continue breastfeeding as long as she wanted, "but during the first six months of delivery, no other food except for the mother's milk should be given to the child."
Meanwhile, the district programme office also organised a programme to mark breastfeeding week by distributing pamphlets and leaflets in different areas to raise awareness about breastfeeding in the region.
What is World Breastfeeding Week?
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from August 1 to August 7 in more than 120 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration made by WHO and UNICEF policy-makers in August 1990 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding
The WHO recommends that infants start breastfeeding within one hour of life, are exclusively breastfed for six months, with timely initiation of adequate, safe and properly fed complementary foods, while continuing breastfeeding for up to two years of age or beyond.