World Breast Feeding Week Celebration - 2015

Numbers of activities were organized for the students, nurses and the mothers. The theme focused on mother friendly workplace initiative to empower and support all women, working in both formal and informal sectors, to optimally combine work with child rearing, particularly with breastfeeding.
The objectives of World Breastfeeding Week 2015 were to:
• Inform people about the available maternity protection entitlements and raise awareness to strengthen the national legislation and implementation.
• To gain multi-dimensional support from all sectors to enable women everywhere to work and breastfeed.
• Promote action by employers to become baby and mother-friendly and actively facilitate and support their women employees to continue breastfeeding.
• Strengthen supportive practices that enable working women in the informal sector to breastfeed.
The week long programme started with the inauguration by Dr. Jayashree, Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics and Dr. Anice George, Dean, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal on 03.08.2015 at 2.00 pm. In the inaugural speech, they emphasized the importance of breast milk over artificial feeds, consequences of not breastfeeding the baby, importance of bonding between mother and the child and the role of nurse in breastfeeding.
 

The various activities which were conducted are given below:
 Lactation counselling for mothers:
Individual counselling on breast feeding for 20 postnatal mothers admitted in Kasturba Hospital-Manipal was given by II Year MSc Nursing students and the faculty of MCON who were trained in Infant and Young Child Feeding Counselling specialist from 1st to 7th August 2015. The technique of breastfeeding and the problems of postnatal mothers were assessed and counselling about lactation was given.
 Awareness programme on “Breastfeeding and Work” for mothers and caregivers:
Mrs. Yashoda and Mrs. Sweety JF, faculty of MCON Manipal had an interactive session with 30 postnatal mothers and care givers who were admitted in the postnatal wards of Kasturba Hospital Manipal on importance of breastfeeding on 3rd August 2015 from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm.
The key messages were: providing exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, expressing breast milk and avoiding top feeds. Emphasis was given on continuation of breastfeeding after joining for work and the role of caregivers to support mothers when they joined for work. Concerns of the mothers were clarified during the session.
 

Also, an awareness program for mothers and caregivers was conducted in both postnatal and antenatal wards of Dr. T.M.A. Pai Hospital, Udupi by Mrs. Sangeetha Priyadarshini, and Mrs. Anusuya Prabhu, Faculty of MCON, Manipal on 5th August 2015 from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. A total of 36 mothers and their caregivers attended the session. Mothers were taught and sensitized about the benefits, methods, position and techniques of breast feeding and was emphasized to continue breastfeeding even when they go for work. Mothers and caregivers participated actively in the session and involved actively in the discussion. The overall program was effective as told by mothers through the feedback and also expressed that it enabled them to clear their doubts and myths regarding breast feeding practices. 

Educating the health professionals:
Dr. Mamatha S Pai, HOD, Department of Child Health Nursing, Dr. Judith Noronha, Associate Dean and HOD, Department of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Nursing, and Mrs. Sushmitha RK, Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Nursing of Manipal College of Nursing educated staff nurses of Kasturba Hospital Manipal on the theme, ‘Breastfeeding and Work: Let’s make it Work’ on 3rd August 2015 from 2.00 to 4.00 pm.
The points highlighted were: breastfeeding and work, the importance of early initiation of breastfeeding, proper attachment and positioning in the success of breastfeeding, counselling skills, the nurse’s role in building the confidence of the mothers and supporting mothers in the breastfeeding. A video on Breast Crawl and Helping mothers to breastfeed was shown to the participants. It was emphasized to transfer the information what they have learnt to the mothers and encourage mothers to continue breast feeding at work place.
 

Mrs. Sushmitha RK also took a session on “Breastfeeding” at Father Muller Charitable Institution organized by Department of Obstetrical and Gynaecology, Father Muller Medical College and Father Muller College of Nursing, Mangalore on 7th August.2015.

Also, the session on ‘Breastfeeding and Work: Let’s make it Work’ for staff nurses of Dr. T. M.A Pai Hospital, Udupi was conducted by Mrs. Anjalin D’Souza, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Child Health Nursing and Mrs. Shobha, Lecturer, Dept. of OBG Nursing from MCON Manipal on 4th August 2015 from 2.00 to 4.00 pm. A total of 23 nurses participated in the programme. The session emphasized on the importance of continuing breast feeding at work place, early initiation of breastfeeding, importance of attachment and positioning in the success of breastfeeding, counselling skills, the nurse’s role in building the confidence of the mothers and supporting mothers in the breastfeeding.
 

Cartoon competition:
As a part of World Breast Feeding Week celebration a ‘Cartoon competition’ was conducted on 7th August 2015 for the students of Manipal College of Nursing Manipal between 4 to 5 pm. A total of 14 participants took part in the competition. The creative and wonderful cartoons drawn by the participants made it possible to bring out the concepts of breast feeding and women at work.
 

Talk in Radio FM-90.4 :
A talk in the form of a skit in English and local language Kannada was delivered by 2nd Year MSc Nursing students of Manipal College of Nursing Manipal on the theme “Breast feeding and Work: Let’s make it work”. The session highlighted the importance of breastfeeding, continuing breastfeeding at workplace, expression and storage of breastmilk and the maternity benefits available. The programme was broadcasted in Radio FM- 90.4 on 6th and 7th August 2015 from 5.00 to 6.00 pm. Thus met the objective of creating public awareness.
 

 Community awareness through social media:
To bring awareness among the public, a newspaper article on “Breast feeding” was published in ‘Udayavani’ Kannada daily newspaper in two parts on 2nd and 9th August 2015. This article was written by Mrs. Yashoda Assistant Professor, Department of Child Health Nursing.
 Awareness among the community women:
A session on breast feeding, its importance and how to promote breast feeding in family and at work place was taken by Mrs Yashoda S, Assistant Professor for self-help-group for women and members of Narayana Guru Seva Samiti, in Kunjibettu Udupi on 9th August 2015. Around 200 members participated in the session. The session was interactive and gained appreciation of Seva Samiti committee members.

The one week event was organized by the faculty and II MSc Nursing students of Department of Child Health Nursing and Obstetrics and Gynaecological Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing Manipal and coordinated by Mrs. Binu Margaret, Mrs.Prathiba, Mrs. Shobha and Ms.Nisha.