A breastfeeding awareness campaign was organised under Swabhiman programme in Bengaluru focusing on expecting and lactating mothers.
According to WHO study malnutrition causes one in every three infant deaths in India. Further, 66% of the infant deaths occur during the first year of life. This is often caused by inappropriate feeding practices. Breast milk contains nutrients that are vital for the infant in the first few months and hence breastfeeding is very crucial in the initial six months, which should also accompany regular food up to two years.
Team Swabhiman was supported by Mrs. Indiramma, a social scientist retired from Health & Family Welfare Dept., Govt of Karnataka. Various sessions were conducted with mothers in batched. It included importance of breast feeding, knowledge about colostrum, hygiene practice during lactating, nutrition for infants and milestones for infants.
Swabhiman programme was introduced in Karnataka last year and has been operational in Sai Baba Layout (Ramanna Badavane) and Shivanandha Nagar clusters. Smile Foundation’s Community Health Educators (CHEs) maintained the details of these beneficiaries to follow up for further treatment and help. A few critical cases were referred to hospitals for specialized curative treatment.