Breast milk best for both mother, child

Peddapalli: Breast milk, a complete source of nutrition, is the best medicine a mother can give to her baby, said Joint Collector Vanaja Devi. She held a review meeting with the officials of ICDS, medical and health departments along with ASHA workers at the Collectoate Conference hall here on Tuesday.

The JC said that Breastfeeding Week is observed from August 1 to 7 in the district to stress the need of breastfeeding the child.Awareness must be created among the women about the importance of breastfeeding in the government hospitals.

New-born babies must be fed with mother’s milk within an hour after the birth, as the milk, colostrum will increase infant’s immunity and protects from several diseases in future. Not only the child will be benefitted with breastfeeding, there are less chances for the women, who breastfeed their children, of getting breast cancer.

According to a recent health survey conducted across the nation, it was found that only 41.6 per cent of children are breastfed within an hour after the birth and 55 per cent of children are breastfed for the first six months after the birth.

Breastfeeding the baby till it gets six months age is considered as golden stage. The Joint Collector ordered Anganwadi teachers to educate people and tell them about the importance of breastfeeding and mother’s milk.

Peddapalli Revenue Division Officer K Narasimha Murthy, District in-charge Welfare Officer Chandraprakash Reddy, District Panchayat Officer V Sudarshan, District Medical and Health Officer Dr Pramod Kumar, District BC Welfare Officer Damodar and Anganwadi teachers were present along with ASHA workers at the meeting.