Haryana to observe breastfeeding week

With a view to generate awareness about breast-feeding of children for up to six months after birth, a 'Breast Feeding Week' will be observed in Haryana from August 1 to 7.
This was stated by Rakesh Gupta, director, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Haryana, while addressing civil surgeons and district programme officers of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) through video-conferencing from here today.
The theme of the week would be 'Breast Feeding Support- Close to Mothers'.
Renu Fulia, director, Women and Child Development was also present during the video-conferencing.
Brand Ambassador of NRHM, wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt who won the bronze medal in Olympics 2012, also rallied for the cause.

Gupta said that the objective of the week is to draw attention of people to the importance of close support in the community and one-to-one counselling in helping mothers to establish and maintain optimal feeding practices of the children.
The Health Department is making the community aware about the exclusive breastfeeding practice, he said.
He said that according to the evaluation conducted by School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, breastfeeding initiation rate is 54.5 per cent in Haryana.