The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Breastfeeding Week observed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 02, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Breastfeeding Week observed

Special Correspondent

Government keen to strengthen child health centres

MATRENAL CHILD CARE: Mothers and their babies at the celebrations at the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, in Chennai on Tuesday. — Photo: K. V. Srinivasan

CHENNAI: It is time to talk to mothers about the health of their newborns and exclusive breastfeeding and its advantages.

August 1-7, globally observed as Breastfeeding Week, will see much activity in the maternal and child health sector in Tamil Nadu too.

Health Minister K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran inaugurated the string of events at the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (IOG) in Egmore, Chennai, on Tuesday morning.

Infrastructure upgrade

The Government was keen on strengthening centres that focussed on maternal and child health. A sum of Rs. 25 lakh each had been allotted to the IOG and the Kasturba Hospital for Women for upgrading of infrastructure.

Handing over prizes to mothers and children, who won the `Well Baby Contest,' conducted by the hospital, he urged mothers to stick to feeding their children breast milk exclusively.

Health Secretary V.K. Subburaj said mothers should be advised to feed the baby within the first hour of delivery and continue exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.

The colostrums in the first milk discharge provided immunity to the child and would serve as the first ever `vaccination'.

IOG Director and Superintendent V. Madhini said information about the right means of feeding the baby should be propagated.

N. Saraswathi, additional professor of Paediatrics and Neonatology, explained the provisions of the Infant Milk Substitutes Act.

At the Institute of Social Paediatrics in the Government Stanley Hospital, the former director, S. Gopal, inaugurated the celebrations. Nurses, students of paediatrics, mothers and girl students of arts and sciences colleges will participate in various contests to be held during the week.

Posters designed by nurses are on display on the ground floor of the paediatric block.

Carnatic singer Nithyashree Mahadevan sang a few lines from the Tiruvasagam in praise of mother to inaugurate the celebrations at the Kanchi Kamakoti Childs Trust Hospital here.

The campaign includes a `well baby' contest, a poster exhibition, cultural competitions, quiz contests for nurses and postgraduate doctors, a continuing medical education programme for doctors and nurses and outreach programmes in public health centres and women's colleges.

There will be an interaction with special invitees on a public forum on Wednesday. Jayam Kannan, obstetrician and head of the Garbha Rakshambikai Fertility Centre, said gene transplants to improve the breast glands were being researched.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu