ANM workers, ASHA Karmis and members of the Mahila Arogya Samiti on Thursday staged a symbolic awareness umbrella rally on breastfeeding here to mark the World Breastfeeding Week (WBFW). The rally, beginning from Master Canteen Square to the IG Park, was jointly organised by the Child Health Now (CHN) Campaign in association with the City Health Mission, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Capital Hospital. The rally was followed by a street play in front of the IG Park.
Holding unfolded umbrellas and placards, the participants sensitised the public on the benefits of breastfeeding and its importance for maternal and child health.
BMC Mayor Anant Narayan Jena, former Minister Panchanan Kanungo, Capital Hospital Director Dr Biswa Bhusan Pattnaik, City Health Mission Convenor Dr Banalata Devi and Ollywood artist Tatwa Prakash Satpathy (Popu Pom Pom) joined the event as guests. They sought departmental coordination to promote, protect and support breastfeeding from colostrum feeding to minimum two years of breastfeeding by giving both space and time, whether at home or at workplace.
Among others, Child Health Now Campaign officer Ananga Dev Singh and Sahayog Secretary Bijayalaxmi Rautaray were present.