Need of spreading awareness, breaking myths on breastfeeding stressed at Bhopal media meet

Correspondent

NewsBits.in

BHOPAL: Speaking at a social media meet, Madhya Pradesh deputy chief minister Rajendra Shukla said we need to spread awareness on the importance of breastfeeding as it saves lives.

Representatives of traditional media and social media participated in the meet organised at the office of National Health Mission on August 6 to mark World Breastfeeding Week. 

Speaking at the meet, Priyanka Das, Mission Director of National Health Mission spoke on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for children and women and the need to increase colostrums (initial thick milk of mother) feeding in the State.

She added that we have many myths and it is important that we use all the media channels to break these myths. 

Swarnima Shukla, Joint Director, State Department of Women and Child Development spoke on the efforts of the department, especially a campaign undertaken to mark the World breastfeeding week.

Anil Gulati, Communication Specialist, UNICEF said that colostrums is like the first human vaccine for children and it is important that we counter myths and promote male participation to push for exclusive breastfeeding.

Special photo exhibition was oraganised at the media meet, which was a joint initiative of NHM and UNICEF. Dr Himani Yadav Deputy Director Child Health took the participants through the exhibition and shared the background and how these photographs depict the efforts of the State to promote breastfeeding at health facilities and institutions. 

Dr Aruna Kumar, Director Mother and Child Health, Pushpa Awasthy, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF and Dr Prashant Kumar, UNICEF, were also present at the meet. Participants included Madhu Choudhury, Nidhi Shukla Pandey, Nidhi Rawatia, Pinky Tiwari, Anadi Tiwari, Amy from Radio Mirchi, You Tubers and media partners.