Public places in Odisha to have breastfeeding centers, says Dy CM Pravati Parida

Bhubaneswar: Public places in Odisha are all set to have breastfeeding centers, said the Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida speaking on the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week. The week is observed from August 1 to August 7

Speaking to media about the importance of Breast feeding the Deputy CM said  breastfeeding centers for the convenience of newborns and their mothers are a must.

According to reports, the breast feeding centers shall have a woman guide to encourage women. The breast feeding center shall be set up in public places such as shopping malls, bus stands and railway stations.

The Centers shall have places to sit and drinking water shall be available for the lactating mothers. The mothers and their babies who are lactating can avail the facilities while visiting the above mentioned places.

In addition to the above statement, the deputy CM launched two new websites relating to Women and Child Development Department. Odisha’s first official breastfeeding centre was also inaugurated at the Odisha State Commission for Women premises in Bhubaneswar.

Supported by WHO, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and many Ministries of Health and civil society partners, World Breastfeeding Week is held in the first week of August every year.

According to the official website of the World Health Organization (WHO) breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival and yet currently, fewer than half of infants under 6 months old are exclusively breastfed.

In 2018, a World Health Assembly resolution endorsed World Breastfeeding Week as an important health promotion strategy. With a different theme each year, it aims to promote the enabling environments that help women to breastfeed. The efforts include support in the community and the workplace, with adequate protections in government policies and laws, as well as sharing information on breastfeeding benefits and strategies, WHO further added on its official website.