Media Release
Mangaluru, Aug 10: The week long breastfeeding awareness programme organised by Father Muller Charitable Institutions, namely Father Muller Medical College, Father Muller College of Nursing, Father Muller Homeopathic College and Hospital, Father Muller Hospital Thumbay and the Father Muller Salvadore Monteiro Rural Training Center concluded with the healthy child competition.
Various activities were held during the week at the different institutions of the charitable institution and at the peripheral centers of the college.
Keeping in mind the importance of mother’s milk in wholesome development of the child and in disease prevention, this initiative was given prominent guidance by the director of FMCI, Fr Richard A Coelho. The cases of childhood malnutrition and infant deaths could be reduced through such awareness was his message. Life is to be saved than destroyed, was his message, reaffirming the stance of the church.
The department of OBG under the leadership of Dr Nagaratna and the Father Muller College of Nursing held an inaugural programme on August 1 with Dr Poornima J, senior specialist, CHC, Mulki was chief guest.
Simultaneously, the Father Muller Salvadore Monteiro Rural Training Center under the leadership of Dr Jessy D’Souza, organised an awareness programme along with Ayesha, gram panchayat member, Bajpe. The medical and nursing colleges took upon themselves the task of creating awareness in various places through skit and talk on this important issue.
Awareness on this issue was created in Angawadis, health centers and panchayat offices to help remove the myths and folkways with regards to breastfeeding. Parents were taught the importance of child nutrition and debunking age old myths regarding breastfeeding. Programmes were conduted throughout the week. Here are the summary of events:
August 1 (Thursday) – Inaugural at Father Muller Medical College, Mangaluru
Inaguration of the week long event at Father Muller Salvadore Monteiro Rural Training Center, Bajpe
August 2 (Friday) – Health talk and awareness campaign at Muranagara Anganwadi, Bajpe
August 3 (Saturday) – Health talk and awareness campaign at Siddhanagara Anganwadi, Bajpe
August 5 (Monday) – Health talk and awareness campaign at Malavoor gram panchayat office
August 6 (Tuesday) – Health talk and awareness campaign at Moodshedde gram panchayat office
August 7 (Wednesady) – Healthy baby competition and awareness programme at Father Muller Homeopathic College and Hospital, Father Muller Hospital Thumbay and the Father Muller Salvadore Monteiro Rural Training Center
Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) calls for action to raise the level of awareness among people so as to increase the breastfeeding rates by empowering women and creating an enabling environment for them.
The Father Muller Charitable Institutions under the guidance of the director FMCI, Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho, administrator FMMCH, Fr Rudolph Ravi D’Sa, administrator FMHCH, Fr Roshan Crasta, administrator FMH-T, Fr Slyvester Vincent Lobo and the respective faculty heads take such occasions for awareness creation among the general public as the most essential mode of disease prevention and control.