Mangaluru: World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated globally every year from August 1 to 7 to encourage breastfeeding, promote mothers’ rights and ensure a safe and healthy growth of a child.
Themed on, ‘Breast Feeding-Foundation of Life’, the inaugural ceremony of the World Breast Feeding Week was held at the Conference Hall of Father Muller Medical College Hospital (FMMCH), here on Wednesday, August 1.
As part of celebrating the World Breastfeeding Week, weeklong activities will be conducted at the hospital and outreach centres.
The Chief Guest of the day, Dr Mahesh Navada, Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, FMMCH, highlighted the importance of breastfeeding. The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is an initiative to protect, promote and support breastfeeding worldwide. He further stated that breast milk has been a benison to thousands of lives for centuries. Breast milk has immune-boosting components and boosts overall growth and development in a child. Breastfeeding is a noble act of sacrifice, love, care and strength. Apart from this, it is also benefitting nursing mothers, by providing resistance from breast cancer, ovarian cancer and also improves overall bone health.
In his presidential address, Fr Rudolph Ravi D’Sa, Administrator of FMMCH mentioned that both the educated as well as non-educated need awareness and motivation about breastfeeding.
Dr Jayaprakash Alva, Dean, Father Muller Medical College, Sr Jacinta D’ Souza, Principal, Father Muller College of Nursing, Ms Jasmine Sarita Vas, Principal, School of Nursing, Sr Janet, Chief Nursing Officer, Dr B. Sanjeev Rai, Chief of Medical Services and others were present on the occasion.
Ms Priya Fernandes, Asst Professor, FMCON, welcomed the gathering. Ms Ramyashree, Lecturer, FMCON, rendered the vote of thanks. Ms Jasmine Sarita Vas handled the proceedings.
A special video screening on ‘Amrita Bindu’ was held towards the end of the programme.
The programme was organized by the OBG, Community health and Paediatric Departments of Father Muller College of Nursing and Father Muller Medical College.
The participants included antenatal and postnatal women admitted at the Father Muller Medical College Hospital.
