Port Blair, Aug 01: Community Food and Nutrition Extension Unit (CFNEU), Port Blair organised a Workshop on the importance of breastfeeding at the Community hall in Hasmatabad, South Andaman today to mark Breastfeeding Week. About 35 Anganwadi workers, Child Development Project Officers and ICDS supervisors participated in the workshop.
Speaking to the participants on the occasion, Demonstration Officer, CFNEU Shri Anil Ku
mar Dhiman said providing mother’s milk to infants is very essential and breastfeeding must be considered as every infant’s basic right.” Ignoring breastfeeding to infants is not only an insult to the motherhood but also a crime against humanity”, he added.
He further said Mother’s milk is the best and ideal food for the infants and it acts as first vaccination for the infants. “Breastfeeding to infants within an hour of their birth protects them from many diseases and also leads to better mental development. Infants must be provided only mother’s milk till 6 months of age and must not be fed with any other pre-lacteal food. Ignoring breastfeeding to infants of less than two months of age increases the probability of their untimely death due to malnutrition and other infectious diseases”, he elaborated.
Shri Dhiman urged the participants to share the information regarding the benefits of breastfeeding with every household in their respective areas. Medical officer Santanu Ghosal, DHS was also present on the occasion and spoke on Malnutrition whereas Health Educator Seema Brohma, DHS also highlighted the importance of breastfeeding and personal hygiene. Breastfeeding Week is observed in the first week of August to focus attention on the important aspect of promotion and support of breastfeeding. The theme of this year’s breastfeeding week is ‘Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding’. CFNEU operates under Food and Nutrition Board of Ministry of Woman and Child Development.
