The MAMTA-HIMC, Darrang under the project MANCH of ITC Mission Sunehra Kal observed the World Breastfeeding Week among the village women folk in Darrang district in a befitting manner.
In the slogan writing contest organised on the occasion, the slogans ‘Stanpaane diye aamar sishuk saakti’, sakalo rogar pora sishuk diye mukti‘, ‘Stanpaan korale sishuwe sakalo khadyai paai‘, ‘Ee diye sishuk shhu shasthyar upai’ were selected by the organisers as the best slogans.
The non-government organization celebrated the week-long event, which concluded on Tuesday, with a slew of programmes in four gaon panchayats in the district – Chapai, Chamuaprara, Dahi and Ramhari.
The World Breastfeeding Week was observed with the theme ‘Breastfeeding, the foundation of life’ and the objective was creating awareness among the target beneficiaries as well as the community with the involvement of Health Department, ICDS, PRI to sensitize community on importance of mothers’ milk and how it can reduce risk of sudden infant death (SIDS) through speech, postering, distribution of leaflet, displaying handmade pamphlet on breastfeeding, audio-visual presentation, slogan writing competition and miking for mass awareness among the community, stated a MAMTA-HIMC, Darrang press communiqué.
Several community level meetings were held where stakeholders including ANM, Anganwadi Supervisors, ASHA, AWW workers and teachers were present. In such meetings experienced ANM, Anganwadi Supervisors, AWW like Hasina Begum, Minmoyee Mamta and Bhantima Deka respectively spoke about the scientific technique and necessary posture for proper breastfeeding to infants.
The speakers in their speeches expressed concern over the matter that exclusive breastfeeding is not being practised properly by some lactating mothers leading to some bad effect to the health of newborns.
Participating in the events, officials of the MAMTA including Kangkan Kumar Saikia, Program Associate, MAMTA-HIMC, Darrang, Varnali Barman, Finance Coordinator and Basanta kr. Nath, MIS Coordinator dwelt at length about the series of benefits of breastfeeding for both the child and the mother.
“Mothers’ milk is consumed immediately by the baby and it helps the baby to have balanced nutrition and it also works as natural contraceptive. Many working women do not exercise breastfeeding for their babies exclusively and it increases the chances of breast and ovarian cancer to the mothers,” said Program Associate Kangkan Kumar Saikia. Saikia also also gave tips for five steps breast self-examination for early detection of symptoms of breast cancer, the statement added.
Meanwhile, each of the six winners of slogan writing contests was awarded with nutritional foods. On the other hand, the NHM, Darrang authority claimed before a section of media that various programmes have been organized in connection with the world breast feeding week.
However the NHM authority didn’t allegedly consider the necessity of communicating with the staff of the Mangaldai Urban Health Centre even though the health centre has reportedly recorded a sizeable number of newborn babies and lactating mothers over the years. On being visited the centre on Wednesday, Lina Bora, the Lady Health Supervisor on duty while talking to this correspondent expressed her ignorance about any communication in this regard.
Similar reaction was from Ajit Medhi, the senior pharmacist, who has observed that educated urban women are also not well aware of the scientific breastfeeding techniques and its immense benefits, so they also need necessary motivation on proper breastfeeding.
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