Eluru Doctors Highlight Importance of Breastfeeding as a Baby’s First Vaccine

Quick Summary

• Event: Government General Hospital (GGH-Eluru) marked the start of World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7).
• Key Message: Experts highlighted that no commercial baby formula matches the benefits of motherS milk.
• Benefits of Breastfeeding:

– Colostrum, the first milk post-childbirth, acts as a baby’s first vaccine and is critical for immunity.
– Initiation within one hour after birth and exclusive breastfeeding for six months were strongly encouraged.
– Complementary feeding should begin after six months while continuing breastfeeding for up too two years.

• For Mothers: Breastfeeding reduces postpartum complications.
• Child Health Benefits: Reduction in risks related to diarrhoea, pneumonia, obesity, diabetes, etc.
• Awareness efforts: Similar programmes will be hosted across Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Secretariats in Eluru district throughout the week.
• Speakers Included: District Medical officers J. amrutham and U. Shobha; GGH Superintendent M.Samadhan Raju; paediatrician Deepak Kumar; gynaecologist Lavanya; RMO P. Mallikarjuna Rao.

Indian Opinion Analysis

World Breastfeeding Week underscores a critical healthcare priority: promoting awareness about optimal infant nutrition provided by breastfeeding. The data presented highlights ample benefits-both nutritional and immunological-underscoring its irreplaceable role not only in strengthening infant immunity but also in reducing health complications for mothers.

India faces significant challenges regarding maternal education on best feeding practices, notably among vulnerable populations with socio-economic or geographic barriers to accessing healthcare advice like this initiative provides at PHCs or hospitals like GGH-Eluru’s program launch team targets improvisation /access amplifications over full reach occurrences.. As these awareness programmes unfold locally during World Breastfeeding Week proper followup metric could gauge targeted process yield better mixes lasting impact.

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