Hyderabad: Women and Child Welfare Minister Danasari Anasuya Seethakka directed officials to organise extensive awareness programmes across Telangana during World Breastfeeding Week from August 1 to 7 and ensure the campaign’s success.
The Minister said breast milk is every child’s first right and the most complete natural source of nutrition. Moreover, she described colostrum as a baby’s first vaccine because it strengthens immunity.
Seethakka instructed officials to ensure that mothers begin breastfeeding within one hour of childbirth. She also said infants should receive only breast milk during the first six months. After that, mothers should continue breastfeeding up to two years along with age-appropriate complementary food.
She asked officials to conduct World Breastfeeding Week as a mass public awareness campaign rather than a routine government programme.
World Breastfeeding Week awareness drive
Meanwhile, Seethakka directed Anganwadi centres to organise awareness meetings, door-to-door campaigns and community programmes across villages and urban wards. She asked officials to widely promote the health benefits of breastfeeding.
The Minister instructed Anganwadi teachers, helpers, supervisors, Women and Child Welfare officials, ASHA workers and Health Department staff to work together. In addition, they should visit government and private hospitals to counsel pregnant women, nursing mothers and mothers of children below two years.
Seethakka asked field staff to remove misconceptions about breastfeeding through scientific awareness. Further, she urged them to involve family members in counselling programmes.
The Minister directed officials to coordinate with hospitals so every newborn receives breast milk within the first hour after birth. She said Anganwadi centres should emerge as guidance centres for maternal and child health. She added that the government’s goal is to build a malnutrition-free Telangana through better nutrition practices.
Finally, Seethakka appealed to public representatives, doctors, women’s organisations, Anganwadi staff, voluntary organisations and families to actively participate in World Breastfeeding Week. She urged society to support every mother in breastfeeding her child.