Breast-feeding week begins
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 01 2013: Dispelling the common notion, particularly among the local populace, that post-delivery the mother should have only select food items (dishes), Director (Family Welfare) Dr O Ibomcha Singh advised the mothers not to restrict dietary intake.

With reference to the general people's concept that in the initial days after delivery the mother should limit their diets to rice and dry fish combination, Dr Ibomcha said there should be no restriction if the mother wants to have meals based on egg, fish or meat items.

Speaking at the World Breast-feeding Week observance held today at conference hall of Manipur Voluntary Health Association, Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri Mapal, the Director cautioned that absence of nutritious food after delivery would not only cause health problem to the mother in the future but also have negative impact on the child's health.

He also clarified that even during pregnancy a mother can continue to breast-feed her infant child.

As chief guest of the event's inauguration programme, Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai highlighted that role of the mother is most crucial and decisive in the health of the newborn as both physical proximity and emotional bonds are of utmost necessity.

Regretting that modern day requirements had resulted in the working mothers forced to rely on artificial feeding of the child, she said such procedure often leads to vitamin deficiency and other diseases of the child in addition to the mother vulnerable to cancers of the ovary or breast.

Under the objective of making both the mother and child healthy the Union Government launched ICDS project under which no less than 42 anganwadi workers/helpers are engaged for a particular area to conduct awareness programmes on breast feeding and related issues, Mirabai explained that there is no necessity for limiting the breast-feeding period from 0-6 months as the natural feeding process may be continued even if the child is over two years or more.

According to BPAM district coordinator Dr N Kameshore Singh breast-feeding should continue within one hour of delivery.

While it is mandatory that breast-feeding should continue till the child is six months old there is no harm in continuing with breast-feeding upto two-years or more, said Dr Kameshore who also advised against feeding other sources of food, including water, honey etc., till the infant child is six months old.

Among others BPAM secretary Dr Shyamkumar Lais- hram, MVHA president Kh Achou, BPAM president Dr Nabakishore Singh and BPAM advisor Dr Ksh Chourajit singh were also present.

Held under the theme 'Breast-feeding Support: Close to mothers', the event is being jointly organised by MVHA and BPAM.

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