Vellore rally spotlights benefits of breastfeeding during awareness week
Sandhya Hospital in Vellore organised a rally on Monday to mark World Breastfeeding Awareness Week, observed annually from August 1 to 7, according to a press release. The event aimed to educate the public about the importance of breastfeeding and its health benefits for both mothers and infants.
The rally was flagged off by Sandhya Babu, director of Sandhya Hospital and Sandhya College of Nursing, along with Sunil Raj, a paediatrician. Participants included doctors, nurses, nursing students, and hospital staff, who carried placards with messages emphasising the significance of breastfeeding.
World Breastfeeding Awareness Week is a global campaign led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF to promote breastfeeding as a vital intervention for child survival, health, and development. The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding with complementary foods for up to two years or beyond.
Breastfeeding provides essential nutrients and antibodies that protect infants from common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea and pneumonia. For mothers, it helps reduce the risk of postpartum depression and certain cancers, and it supports mother-child bonding.
The rally is part of broader efforts by health institutions in the region to reinforce these messages. By involving nursing students and hospital staff, Sandhya Hospital aims to carry these awareness messages into their communities and clinical practice.
The press release did not specify the route of the rally or further details, but the initiative underscores the ongoing need to support breastfeeding mothers through accurate information and a supportive environment.
