Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 1: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has launched a week-long campaign to promote optimal breastfeeding practices across the Islands, with health authorities focusing on early initiation, exclusive breastfeeding and sustained community support to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
The Reproductive and Child Health-II programme under the Union Territory Health Mission, in association with the Directorate of Health Services, is observing World Breastfeeding Week from August 1 to August 7 across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The observance is being held under the theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.”
The campaign aims to reinforce evidence-based breastfeeding practices by tracking progress, evaluating the impact of existing interventions and strengthening measures that have proven effective in improving breastfeeding outcomes. It also seeks to build stronger support systems for mothers and infants through coordinated action involving health services, communities, workplaces and families.
During the week, health authorities will organise awareness programmes designed to inform and educate stakeholders on the importance of creating and sustaining breastfeeding-friendly environments. The initiatives are intended to encourage wider participation from governments, healthcare systems, workplaces, communities and families in supporting mothers during the breastfeeding period.
A key focus of the campaign will be promoting breastfeeding within one hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary feeding up to two years of age or beyond. These practices will form the central message of the awareness drive throughout the week.
The Directorate of Health Services, working in collaboration with the Union Territory Health Mission, will conduct extensive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities at community and health facility levels across the Islands. The outreach is aimed at increasing awareness about the benefits of optimal breastfeeding and encouraging families to adopt recommended infant feeding practices.
Healthcare providers will utilise every available interaction with pregnant women, lactating mothers and their family members to provide counselling on the importance of breastfeeding and its health benefits. The counselling sessions are expected to reinforce recommended feeding practices and support informed decision-making among families.
Government health institutions across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will also organise health talks, counselling sessions, awareness programmes and community outreach activities throughout the observance. The week-long campaign is aimed at promoting breastfeeding practices while contributing to improved maternal and child health outcomes across the Union Territory.
