IMA observes World Breastfeeding Week

The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Phagwara, in collaboration with all maternity hospitals of the city, marked World Breastfeeding Week with a coordinated public health awareness drive aimed at educating new mothers on the irreplaceable value of breastfeeding. Throughout the week, hospitals providing maternal and child health services hosted patient awareness seminars, highlighting breastfeeding as not only the first nourishment but also the most beautiful and healthiest gift a mother can offer her newborn.

Dignitaries from Dr GB Hospital, Dr Gurpreet Maternity Hospital, Gupta Hospital, Gandhi Hospital, Virk Hospital, Bahra Hospital, Dr Harjeet Kaur Maternity Hospital and Dr Meena Singh Hospital participated in the drive. The seminars brought together leading paediatricians — Dr Vijay Sharma, Dr Puneet, Dr Vineet, Dr Aaina, Dr Sunil, Dr Chiman Arora and Dr Sood — who addressed the long-term health benefits of breastfeeding, stressing its role in boosting immunity, supporting growth and preventing early childhood illnesses.

IMA president Dr Tushar Aggarwal urged the medical community and families to adopt the 2025 global theme, ‘Create Sustainable Support Systems’, underscoring that family encouragement plays a decisive role in helping mothers initiate and continue breastfeeding. IMA secretary Dr Poonam reinforced the message, pointing out that breast milk contained protective antibodies vital for safeguarding newborns from infections. IMA vice-presidents Dr Kamal Kishor and Dr Supreet Virk advised that breastfeeding should begin immediately after birth and be given exclusively for the first six months of life, without any supplementary feeds.

IMA-Phagwara also held a Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme on 6 August, 2025. Eminent gastro surgeon Dr Abhijot Parmar delivered a comprehensive session on oncosurgery of the gall bladder and pancreas, sharing advanced surgical techniques and case insights.