DMCH, PAU observe breastfeeding week

Tribune News Service

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Ludhiana, August 6

The Department of Paediatrics at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital observed the World Breastfeeding Week with the theme ‘Bridging the Gap: Support for All’, highlighting the need for community and healthcare support for breastfeeding mothers.

Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Dietetics, and the DMCH College of Nursing organised a week-long programme to spread awareness about breastfeeding, emphasising its critical importance for both infants and mothers.

Dr Puneet A. Pooni, head, Paediatrics, highlighted how breast milk provided essential nutrients, strengthened the immune system and supported cognitive development in babies. She also highlighted that breastfeeding helped mothers with postpartum recovery and reduced the risk of certain cancers and chronic conditions.

Shaveta Batta, in-charge, Dietetics, highlighted that nutrition for mother was equally important both during pregnancy and postpartum.

A declamation contest was held for resident doctors of Paediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology. The Department of Dietetics performed a skit illustrating the benefits of breastfeeding and its positive impact on early childhood development. Additionally, nursing students conducted a poster-making competition at the General OPD Block, creating informative posters.

Meanwhile, the Department of Food and Nutrition at the College of Community Science, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), observed the World Breastfeeding Week at Swaddi village near Sidhwan Bet, Ludhiana.

Dr Kiran Grover, Head of the Department of Food and Nutrition, shared that the World Breastfeeding Week was celebrated globally during the first week of August, supported by WHO and UNICEF.

Dr Renuka Aggarwal, a scientist with the department, delivered a lecture on the ‘importance of Omega-3 Fatty Acids for pregnant and lactating mothers’. She emphasised how a mother’s intake of these nutrients could enhance the quality of breast milk, potentially improving the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of the baby. As many as 45 farm women attended the session.

During the event, a recipe incorporating Omega-3 Fatty Acids into the diet was demonstrated to the participants.