Joining the campaign for concerted global action to support women to combine breastfeeding and work, the district panchayat observed the World Breastfeeding Week here on Saturday by organising a function at the Government Victoria Hospital for Women and Children.
The function, presided over by the district panchayat president, S. Jayamohan, was inaugurated the veteran Kathakali artiste, Chavara Parukutty.
In her address Ms. Parukutty said that through breastfeeding, a mother not only strengthens her bond with the child but that is also an inevitable natural relationship between the two.
Concern
She congratulated the district panchayat for organising such a programme when there was general concern over disinclination towards breastfeeding on the part of the new generation mothers mainly because of the compulsions of work.
She termed breast milk as nature’s nectar for every child. Providing that to the child is the duty of every mother, she added.
Private room
At the function Ms. Parukutty inaugurated a special private room at the hospital where mothers coming there can breastfeed their child. Breastfeeding mothers present at the hospital at the time of the function were honoured.
Children were also presented with toys as gifts.
Theme
The World Breastfeeding Week is observed every year since 1991 from August 1 to 7. This year theme is ‘Breastfeeding and Work-Let’s Make It Work’.
The campaigns call for more family-friendly workplace and public policies.
