Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 1: To encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies, World Breastfeeding Week is being observed across the globe from Ist to 7th of August. The theme of this year is Close to Mothers.
In this connection, a symposium was held at Government Medical College, Srinagar in which experts threw light on the importance of breastfeeding, adding that it is the best way to provide new-born babies with the nutrients they need.
The experts suggested adoption of worldwide instructions in this regard which include mandatory breastfeed upto six months starting within first hour of the birth. They also opined continuation of mother’s feed with supplementary diet after six months and its continuation upto two years.
The experts viewed the role of the family, medical attendants including ANMS, nurses, ASHA workers etc as critical in implementing the breastfeed concept. They stressed the need for creating awareness among masses on it.
It was disclosed in the symposium that if the breastfeed regime is implemented strictly it can save around three thousand babies which otherwise die annually in the State and save another 23000 babies from malnourishment which otherwise occurs to them in the first year of birth which, they said is very critical to them.
The experts said colostrum, the first feed from mother provides the necessary immunization to the new born by providing a protective coat to the entire gastro intestinal tract.
Principal GMC, Dr. Rafiq Pampori, HoD Paediatrics, Dr. Kaisar Ahmad and other senior doctors were present in the symposium.
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