Shillong : World Breastfeeding Week 2016 is being celebrated worldwide from 1-7th August 2016. The department of pediatrics NEIGRIHMS in association with Indian academy of pediatrics, Meghalaya state branch organized a Walkathon yesterday in the campus to promote and support breast feeding.
The Walkathon was participated by the MBBS and nursing students, doctors, nurses and faculty of NEIGRIHMS. Also earlier in the week, the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Meghalaya state branch in association with various other hospitals like NEIGRIHMS, Nazareth, Woodland, Children Hospital, Ganesh Das Hospital etc held various activities to promote breastfeeding. These included public awareness programs, training for staff nurses etc.
Breastfeeding is the best food for babies. It has lots of benefits for mother and the baby. All babies should be exclusively breastfed till 6 months and is critical for survival and health of the baby. Meghalaya is a state where there are high infant deaths and Promotion of breastfeeding in Meghalaya has huge potential for saving children. Through the walkathon NEIGRIHMS and IAP invite all to join hands to spread the word on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is not a choice, it is a responsibility.
Advantages to Family/society
- Contributes to child survival
- Saves money
- Promotes family planning
- Environment friendly
Advantages to mother
- Helps in involution of uterus
- Delays pregnancy
- Decreases mother’s workload, saves time and energy
- Lowers risk of breast and ovarian cancer
- Helps regain figure faster
Advantage to the baby
- Best nutrition for babies
- Protects babies from infections and also help in the development and maturation of the infant’s immune system
- Help sets the metabolic clock of the infant
- mother-infant bonding and neurodevelopment
- Its readily available and practical choice
- Easily digested and well absorbed
- Improves intelligence in babies and decreases allergies
- Protects against later onset of Diabetes
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