Breast feed newborn for healthy development, says Minister

The Pioneer, Aug 1, 2007

Minister for Woman and Child Development Kusum Mehdele has urged the expectant mothers on the occasion of World Breast Feeding Week, which began on Tuesday, to breast feed their newborn within an hour of their birth for their all round development. She said that mothers' milk during the first few days helps increase immunity and promotes growth of the child.

It may be mentioned that several programmes are being organised by the Woman and Child Development Department in cooperation of UNICEF, CARE and Breast Feeding Promotion Network of India to mark the 16th Breast Feeding Week which is being observed from August 1 to 7 in the State.

A pilot project prepared by the department is being implemented in 30 hospitals of Bhopal during the World Breast Feeding Week. Under the project, 46 college girl students and 14 supervisors of the department would highlight the importance of breast feeding within an hour after the delivery to the expectant mothers and would encourage its practise. Director WCD Kalpana Shrivastava throwing light on the project said that such campaign would be launched in all the districts of the State on the basis of its success. She further stated that the women will have to accept the breast feeding as the most important foundation step for the child development.

Breast Feeding Promotion Network of India State coordinator Dr Sheela Bhambal mentioned that the milk secreted by mothers during the first few days, which is called colostrum transmits life to the baby. This initiative could control infant mortality rate to a greater extent. State representative UNICEF Hamid El Bashir said that the first three years after the birth are critical in the development of the child and during this period various capabilities are largely determined in the child.