Fortis Hospitals ​marks World Breast Feeding Week

Bangalore: In a bid to commemorate the significance of breastfeeding and spread an awareness of its immense benefits, Fortis Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road is celebrating World Breast Feeding Week by organizing a fun filled activities and workshops throughout the week.

To create awareness on the importance of Breastfeeding, a booklet on ‘A mother's guide to optimal infant and young child feeding’ authored by lactation expert Mrs. Joyce Jayaseelan and Dr. Anita K Mohan, Consultant Gynaecologist & Obstetrician, was launched. The book gives valuable tips on how to breastfeed for new mothers and information on nutrition for babies.

‘’Breastfeeding a newborn baby is the life-line every mother extends to her child. Breast milk production starts as soon as a woman is pregnant. By ensuring exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, life-long health and protection to the baby are ensured. A non-breastfed baby has ten times more risk of death compared to a breastfed child. Organisations like UNICEF, WHO, WABA (World Alliance for Breast Feeding Action) promote breastfeeding all over the globe. Non-nutritional benefits of breastfeeding are many. E.g. bonding between mother & child, keeping the baby warm, promoting sleep, relieving pain and soothing the baby. This book on breastfeeding aims at educating, promoting and supporting the breastfeeding concepts for all in our community. I hope that every person who reads this book is able to have a healthy and well-informed attitude towards breastfeeding,” said Dr. Anita K Mohan, Consultant Gynaecologist & Obstetrician, Fortis Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road

The World Breast Feeding week is celebrated all over the world from Aug 1st to 7th every year and the theme for this year is “Breastfeeding: A Key to Sustainable Development Growth”. Below is the list of activities planned:

· Educational and awareness sessions will be carried out throughout the week wherein the Pioneers of Baby friendly hospital initiatives (BHFI -a global program that was launched by the World Health Organization), college students from the women cell along with the doctors, the hospital staff and the general public will be actively participating.

· Fortis along with the women & child development ministry will be conducting training workshops on the importance of breastfeeding and adequate nutrition to the garment workers & the slum creche of Madivala.

· Sunday Conversation on World breastfeeding Week based on this years’ theme

· Fortis will conduct training workshops to the parents and their family members on IYCF (infants and young child feeding), and discussions on how breastfeeding benefits, not just the baby, but the family and society as a whole.

· The staff and patients will participate in fun-filled activities such as poster making and play. As part of the activity, mothers will be sharing their experience on Breastfeeding.

“Breastfeeding plays a very significant role in the well-being of an individual. The event is a humble effort by Fortis Hospitals to spread more word on the importance and benefits of breastfeeding. We are extremely delighted to witness huge participation from the parents, patients, their immediate family members, the general public and the doctors. People should realize that breastfeeding is the right of every mother and child and its positive impact and consequences are not confined to a family or an individual, but even has the power to shape the society and the economy”, said Mrs. Joyce Jayaseelan, counsellor and lactation consultant at Fortis Hospitals