The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Breast feeding improves IQ levels of babies: Minister

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Friday, Aug 08, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Breast feeding improves IQ levels of babies: Minister

Staff Reporter

Valedictory of Breast Feeding Week celebrations held

— Photo: M.Karunakaran

WINNER: Social Welfare Minister Geetha Jeevan handing over a prize to a baby that participated in a Well Baby competition organised as part of the World Breast Feeding Week celebration in Chennai on Thursday.

CHENNAI: Social Welfare Minister Geetha Jeevan on Thursday said the IQ levels of babies, who have been breast fed was higher than bottle fed babies.

Speaking at the valedictory of the Breast Feeding Week celebrations organised in the State by the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), she said breast milk also improved their immunity and was essential for optimum brain growth.

Prizes distributed

She also gave away prizes to babies, who had won in well-baby competitions and to mothers.

Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Scheme Secretary N S Palaniappan and ICDS Director C. Samayamoorthi were present on the occasion.

Exhibitions held

As part of the week-long celebrations, exhibitions on the health and nutrition care of antenatal and post-natal mothers and benefits of exclusive breast feeding in the first six months after birth were organised at ICDS centres. Anganwadi staff presented cultural programmes.

As part of Breast Feeding Week, Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital organised various programmes, including a lecture on skin cleansing of newborns, quiz for nurses, cultural programmes by nursing students, slogan competition for mothers and counselling of pregnant and lactating mothers at Sathya Nagar in Jafferkhanpet. The hospital also organised a Kangaroo Mother Care programme that stressed on early feeding and bonding.

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