The Social Welfare Department in collaboration with Health Department, Jharkhand State Nutrition Mission, including different NGOs has planned massive awareness campaigns at State, districts and block level to aware people about the importance of breastfeeding during the World Breastfeeding Week from August 1. The one week events will focus on various activities ranging from awareness campaigns to seminars besides Bal (Shishu) Melas, quizzes and Nukkad Nataks at block level.

With the theme, ‘Breastfeeding: A Key to Sustainable Development’, the annual awareness programme  aims to promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life which yields tremendous health benefits, providing critical nutrients, protection from deadly diseases such as pneumonia, fostering growth and development.

“Apart from State level workshop, the Department  with other stakeholders including district level resource personnel will organise a health check up camps at RIMS,... the child and nutrition specialists will guide the public on the importance of breastfeeding,” said, Secretary, Social Welfare, women and child development, MS Bhatia.

“Health officials will sensitise women on hygiene and various schemes of Integrated Child Development Schemes (ICDS). At district level, a programme on infant milk substitute... a programme on 1000 days, ‘Child Future Development Programme’ covering diverse facets of child care will be conducted...infant and Young Child Feeding initiatives which conform to the traditional Indian practice of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, introduction of complementary foods after six months will be highlighted among people through programmes and other activities,” added, Bhatia.