Breastfeeding best for infant’s immunity

Vijayawada: NTR district collector Dr G Lakshmisha said breast milk is nature’s greatest gift to infants, providing complete nutrition, stronger immunity and promoting healthy physical and mental development. He urged mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months to ensure a healthy start to life.

Launching the World Breastfeeding Week (August 1–7) campaign by unveiling posters at the Collectorate here on Monday, the Collector said this year’s theme, “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems,” underscores the importance of promoting and supporting breastfeeding to ensure lifelong health.

Dr Lakshmisha said breastfeeding should begin within the first hour after birth, describing it as the “golden hour,” as it significantly enhances a newborn’s immunity and overall well-being. He advised mothers to provide only breast milk for the first six months and introduce nutritious complementary food thereafter, while continuing breastfeeding up to two years or beyond. He also directed field-level health workers to intensify awareness programmes on the importance of breastfeeding across the district.

Joint collector S Ilakkiya, DRO M Lakshminarasimham, DM&HO Dr A Sravan Babu, District Immunisation Officer Dr Sharath Babu, and District Women and Child Welfare Officer Rukhsana Sultana Begum participated in the programme. Meanwhile, as part of the week-long celebrations, the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Vijayawada Rural Project, organised a breastfeeding awareness rally and interactive session at Ambapuram-1 Anganwadi Centre in Nunna Sector.

Addressing pregnant women and nursing mothers, Sector Supervisor G Ramadevi stressed that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months without giving water or any other food.

Health officials also explained the safe storage of expressed breast milk for working mothers, the importance of introducing complementary food after six months, and the need to avoid sugary foods for children below two years of age.

HM Mary Kishore, MLHPs Kiranmayi and N Lakshmi Prasanna, ANM Jayalakshmi, ASHA workers, Anganwadi staff and beneficiaries participated in the awareness programme.