The National Family Health Survey-5 data underscores the critical need for promoting breastfeeding, particularly exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life. While the survey shows a slight improvement in exclusive breastfeeding rates—from 54.9% in NFHS-4 to 63.7% in NFHS-5—there is still a significant portion of infants not receiving optimal nutrition. Breastfeeding is essential for reducing infant mortality, boosting immunity, and ensuring proper growth and development. Inadequate breastfeeding practices contribute to malnutrition, infections, and developmental delays in infants. Additionally, the NFHS-5 data highlights regional disparities in breastfeeding practices, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions, awareness campaigns, and support systems to promote breastfeeding, particularly in areas where practices remain suboptimal.
Maternal and child health has long been a cornerstone of the Rural Development Institute’s (RDI) health initiatives. Over the years, RDI has launched numerous programs to improve maternal and child health indicators across the state. Building on these efforts, World Breastfeeding Week was celebrated from August 1st to August 7th, 2024, in the Bahadrabad block of Haridwar, as well as the Doiwala and Kalsi blocks of Dehradun.
With the theme “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All” this year’s celebration highlighted the vital need to make breastfeeding support accessible to every mother, irrespective of their background. Through a range of engaging activities and educational programs, the event aimed to raise awareness and provide essential resources to new and expecting mothers, empowering them on their breastfeeding journey.
A Creative Kickoff: Selfie Points and Hand-Made Badges
The celebration began with a touch of creativity. A dedicated “Take a Selfie” point was set up in RDI featuring inspiring pictures of new mothers. Participants were encouraged to snap selfies to show their support for breastfeeding. Additionally, hand-made badges were distributed to highlight the significance of breastfeeding, fostering a sense of community and shared commitment among attendees.
The participants poured their enthusiasm and creativity into preparing the selfie point and crafting the badges. These simple yet meaningful symbols embodied the collective dedication to bridging the gap in breastfeeding support and creating a supportive environment for all mothers.
Educating and Empowering: The Importance of Breastfeeding
Throughout the week, RDI hosted a series of educational sessions designed to equip new and expecting mothers with practical knowledge and emotional support for their breastfeeding journey. The sessions covered various essential topics, including the benefits of breastfeeding, breastfeeding techniques, nutritional needs, and strategies for managing stress and emotional well-being.
These sessions aimed to empower mothers with the confidence and tools they need to ensure a successful breastfeeding experience. By providing this crucial knowledge, the event sought to create a supportive and informed community of mothers who could thrive in their roles.
Counseling of mothers
One of the event’s highlights was the expert counseling provided by Dr. Deepshikha Chaudhary, a consultant from the Department of Community Medicine at SRHU, along with other healthcare professionals. These experts led the educational sessions, offering valuable insights and answering participants’ questions. Their guidance helped mothers navigate challenges and provided the reassurance they needed to continue their breastfeeding journey confidently.
A Collective Success
The Breastfeeding Week celebration at RDI was a resounding success, thanks to the collaboration between the Institute, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Wipro Cares and New Space India Limited. The event effectively engaged participants through interactive activities while also delivering crucial educational resources for new mothers. The collective enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by everyone involved ensured a meaningful and impactful week of awareness and support.
By bridging the gap in breastfeeding support, RDI helped pave the way for a future where every mother has access to the knowledge, resources, and community she needs to thrive.
