Woman and Child Development Minister (Independent Charge) Smt. Ranjna Baghel has appealed to the media persons to generate awareness in the society towards infant breast-feeding. The media can play a key role in creating awareness among the parents towards taking utmost health care of their newly born babies.
Smt. Baghel was concluding a media workshop on ‘importance of breast-feeding’ organised to mark the world breast-feeding week here at Palash Residency today.
She said that media should come forward to inform the people about the importance of breast-feeding to infants. Smt. Baghel informed that expectant mothers coming to Anganwadi centres on Mangal Diwas are educated about the benefits of breast-feeding. The Minister said that the mothers should take care of their newly born babies and pay special attention to maintain hygiene. Smt. Ranjna Baghel said that breast-feeding programme is not a short-term programme but it is a worldwide ongoing campaign. She said that the newly born must be breast-fed within one hour of birth as it contains cholesterol with substances of resistance power. Smt. Baghel informed that the Atal Bal Arogya Poshan Mission has been implemented in compliance with the 44th point of the resolution of the State Government. Earlier, an amount of Rs. 88 crore was earmarked for this purpose but it has now been increased to Rs. 100 crore.
At the outset, subject-experts Dr. Sheila Bhambal and Dr. Rashmi Dwivedi threw light on importance, quality, methods of breast-feeding, benefit to mothers by breast-feeding and role of media. Discussions were also held on the contribution of media and their expectations.
As many as 60 reporters of various esteemed media houses of Capital were apprised of week-long activities by the Woman and Child Development divisional Joint Director Shri Pravin Gangarade and District Programme Officer Smt. Naqi Jehan Qureshi.
Smt. Baghel also gave away prizes to the wining girl students who took part in quiz, speech, essay competitions etc. Officers of Woman and Child Development Department and representatives of voluntary organisations were present at the media workshop.