World Breastfeeding Week – 2024
World Breastfeeding Week is held every year in the first week of August, supported by WHO, UNICEF and many Ministries of Health and civil society partners. The theme for 2024 was “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All”.
The campaign was to celebrate breastfeeding mums in all their diversity, throughout their breastfeeding journeys, while showcasing how families, societies, communities and health workers can have the back of every breastfeeding mum.
This support includes:
- Policies and attitudes that value women and breastfeeding
- A women and breastfeeding-friendly health care system
- Respect for women’s autonomy and their right to breastfeed anytime, anywhere
Solidarity and community support
On the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week, a program was organized at Jagannath Nursing College, Mancheswar among nursing students of various nursing colleges like AIIMS, SUM Hospital, Aswini Hospitals etc. Prof Amrita Lenka Director and Dr Dasarathi Das, Executive Director SAIHP joined as resource persons. Prof Lenka stressed institutional deliveries and emphasised that nursing staff should encourage mothers to breastfeed. For up to six months breast milk is the best for the child’s overall development. Dr Das highlighted the usefulness of breast milk in preventing infection as antibodies like sIgA, sIgG, and sIgM protect the child. He emphasized that breast milk contains an abundant amount of IgA antibodies that protect the child from the invasion of pathogens through the GI tract. Also, Dr Das emphasised the creation of safe breastfeeding places in public areas like bus stands and market areas for lactating mothers.
