Media Release
Udupi, Aug 9: The Manipal College of Nursing Manipal, MAHE and Department of Pediatrics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, MAHE in collaboration with Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), Udupi District branch celebrated World Breastfeeding Week 2022.
The Department of Child Health Nursing and Community Health Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing (MCON) Manipal and Department of Paediatrics, Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal, MAHE in collaboration with Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), Udupi District Branch observed ‘World Breastfeeding Week 2022’ on the theme “Breastfeeding Friendly Hospitals in India and Step up for breastfeeding - Education and Support” with various activities conducted from August 1-7. The aim was to advocate breastfeeding friendly practices in hospitals and create awareness among health care professionals and the public to support breastfeeding.
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As part of this, a National Webinar on “Promoting Accreditation as Breastfeeding Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) to Increase Breastfeeding Rates in the Hospitals” was organized on August 5, between 2.30 pm and 5 pm virtually through MS Teams platform.
A total of 170 participants including students, staff nurses, administrators and faculty members of institutions across the country attended the sessions. The webinar had three enlightening sessions deliberated by eminent speakers.
Speaking on this year’s theme ‘Step up for Breastfeeding: Education and Support”, Dr Shruthi Bharadwaj, assistant professor, Department of Paediatrics, KMC, Manipal highlighted the need for support of women in health service, workplace and community to optimally breastfeed, to provide the warm chain of support for breastfeeding.
She also stressed the challenges of breastfeeding during pregnancy, delivery and the first six weeks after the birth of a baby. She emphasized the need to train health care providers as breastfeeding counselors and provide practical guidance to mothers in establishing breastfeeding.
Dr Omesh Khurana, professor and HoD, Department of Pediatrics, CCM Government Medical College, Chhattisgarh emphasized on ‘Promoting Accreditation as Breastfeeding Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) to Increase Breastfeeding Rates in the Hospitals’. He highlighted the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) ten steps in key clinical practices and the steps in the process of the assessment of hospital and accreditation to baby-friendly hospital initiative (BFHI).
The session on ‘Nurses Responsibility in promoting Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative in India’ was deliberated by Dr Mamatha S Pai, professor, Department of Child Health Nursing, MCON, Manipal. She highlighted on the nurse’s role in developing and promoting the best practice guidelines on practice, education and organization policy. Dr Judith A Noronha, dean, MCON, Manipal gave the closing remarks.
Dr Shashidhara YN, HoD, Department of Community Health Nursing welcomed the gathering. Reshma and Dr Sangeetha compered the event.
To sensitize on breastfeeding and its importance in the hospital and community, awareness programs on breastfeeding and lactation counselling were conducted to the mothers and their caregivers in Kasturba Hospital Manipal and Anganwadi Centre at 80 Badagubettu Anganwadi centre in collaboration with Women and Child Development Department from August 1 to 6 by the faculty members of MCON. Dr Jayashree Purkayastha, professor, Department of Pediatrics gave an awareness talk to the postnatal mothers on breastfeeding on August 4.
To reach out and promote awareness to a wider range of the public, a community awareness through an interview on FM Radio, 90.4 by Dr Yashoda Sathish on August 1 and Spandana TV by Dr Ansuya and Reshma on August 6.
A seminar was conducted for the nursing staff on August 4, on the theme ‘Step up for breastfeeding – education and support”. Dr. Binu Margaret and Dr Yashoda spoke on the support needed for breastfeeding, early initiation of breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, attachment, positioning and expression of breastmilk with demonstrations.
The valedictory program of the World Breastfeeding Week celebration was held on August 6. Dr Leslie Lewis, HOD, Dept. of Pediatrics, KMC, Manipal emphasized that breastfeeding should be promoted every day in the clinical practice and welcomed the gathering.
Dr Binu Margaret, gave an overview of the activities of World breastfeeding week 2022. The chief guest of the program, Dr Pushpa G Kini, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, KMC, Manipal in her address said that breastfeeding is the best.
She highlighted that breastfeeding helps in bonding and reduces the risk of diabetic mellitus and uterine cancers in mothers. She emphasized that for babies it promotes better intelligence and social skills, and lowers the risk of coronary heart disease. She called the health care professionals to be the ambassadors to promote and support breastfeeding. She congratulated the team for the good organization of the program.
Dr Judith A Noronha, Dean of MCON, in her address said that breastfeeding is a natural phenomenon and supporting working mothers is important for breastfeeding their babies.
She stressed the importance of breast assessment during the antenatal period to avoid breastfeeding related problems in the later stage. She highlighted the importance of breast crawl and latching and focused on the need for continued education and support for the mothers. She also congratulated the team on the success of the program. Prizes were distributed for the winners of poster competition conducted for the staff nurses on breastfeeding and kangaroo mother care on August 5 by the Department of Paediatrics.
Dr Baby S Nayak, HoD, Department of Child Health Nursing thanked all the members. The whole program received a lot of appreciation. Mothers should be continually empowered and health care professionals should inform, anchor, engage and galvanize actions for breastfeeding. The event was hosted by Tenzin Phagdol.