The world breast-feeding day will be observed in Madhya Pradesh from August one to August seven. Various activities as a part of breast-feeding week will be held at Anganwadi centres during the week. The State Government has already issued directives to all district programme officers, district woman and child development officers, chief medical and health officers in this regard. The objective of observing week is to improve nutritional level among the children in Madhya Pradesh.On the first day of week on August one, ‘healthy-infant’ competition will be organised. The infants, who have been breast-fed soon after birth and at least upto six month and been immunised and are being served additional nutritional meals apart from mother-milk, will be selected for the prizes. ‘God Bharai’ function will be organised at Anganwadi centres on August 2 due to first Tuesday falling on this day. On this day, expectant mothers and their family members will be invited at Angandwadi centres and will be counseled to breast-feed newly born babies soon after birth and at least upto six month.
The doubts of lactating mothers will be dispelled through counseling on August 4. During other days of week, women will be encouraged for breast-feeding by visiting door to door. During the visit, information about expectant mothers will be gathered in the prescribed format by talking to them. The State Government has asked the district programme officers/district woman-child development officers to send the compiled information in this regard till August 31.
Message Of Smt. Ranjna Baghel
In her message on world breast-feeding week, Minister of State for Women and Child Development (independent charge) Smt. Ranjna Baghel said that mother milk is not only the best nutritional meal but also immunizes children against the common killer diseases. The mother milk protects child from malnutrition. She informed that expectant mothers are educated about breast-feeding at Anganwadi centres on Mangal Diwas. They are taught how mother-milk is important for the infants. According to Smt. Ranjna Baghel, each and every person must be aware of mother-milk containing nutritional values and excellent disease resistance power. If every one is educated about it then there will be no need to observe breast-feeding, she added and advised that the newly born babies should only be breast-fed soon after birth and upto six month of age with continuing upto two years apart from additional nutritional supplements after six month. The child doesn’t get affected by any disease, due to breast-feeding. Mother milk containing cholesterol enhances disease resistance power in child. Smt. Baghel has appealed to the parents to take utmost health care of their newly born babies.