Medical officer urges women not to feed infants with bottles to prevent infections

Shimla Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Yashpal Ranta presided over a session held at the Mother and Child Health Centre, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Zonal Hospital, on Monday to raise awareness among pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and ASHA workers about the importance of breastfeeding and appealed to them to not feed infants with a bottle to prevent infections.

He also appraised the women of the importance of breastfeeding and encouraged all mothers present in the session to breastfeed their child. Additionally, awareness campaigns are being organised at the block level throughout the district. Speaking during the session, the CMO said World Breastfeeding Week was celebrated globally every year from August 1 to 7 and breastfeeding awareness campaigns were also being organised at the block-level throughout the district.

He said breast milk was not only the best food for the infant but also the nectar of life. He emphasised that it was important to breastfeed the baby within the first half hour of birth as early breastfeeding of the first thick milk (colostrum) was highly beneficial for the baby.

“Colostrum enhances the infant’s immunity and should be followed by exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, after which supplementary food can be introduced. Breast milk not only promotes the baby’s growth and development but also protects them from pneumonia, diarrhoea and other illnesses, thereby reducing infant mortality rates,” he said. “Breastfeeding also lowers the risks of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in women,” he added.