Government Vellore Medical College Hospital (GVMCH), Adukkamparai, is one among the three organisational winners from Tamil Nadu and stands 15 at the all India level in the competition conducted by the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) as part of the World Breastfeeding Week celebrations held from August 1 to 7.
The other two winners are Dr. NGP Arts and Science College, Coimbatore, and the Inner Wheel Club of Ootacamund.
A communication from BPNI was received by Dr. E. Theranirajan, Head of the Department of Paediatrics, GVMCH.
- Theme
The theme of the contest this year was ‘Breastfeeding: A winning Goal for Life.’ BPNI coordinated the activities throughout the country.
It received a total of 108 reports, including pictures from various organisations and individuals from different parts of the country detailing the activities carried out by them in connection with the celebrations.
These reports were assessed by experts who selected 15 winners from organisational category and five winners from individual category.
- Awareness
The celebrations conducted by GVMCH was inaugurated by the District Collector R. Nanthagopal, followed by cultural programmes and skits by nursing students of GVMC to create awareness among mothers of the importance of breastfeeding.
Pamphlets printed in Tamil, explaining the importance and benefits of breastfeeding both for the infants and the mothers were distributed to the mothers in the postnatal ward, children’s ward and OP.
Prizes were distributed to schoolchildren who had been pre-term/low birth weight babies and treated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the GVMCH with exclusive breastfeeding for six months.
Feedback from parents
Parents of these children styled as ‘NICU graduates’ gave their feedback about children’s growth.
The Department of Paediatrics conducted oratorical competitions for adolescent school students on the theme, `Breastfeeding, the Elixir for Infants’.
A debate on the benefits of breast milk for the infants was also conducted. A quiz contest about the importance of breastfeeding and breast milk was held for medical students.
The activities were supported by Dr. Sithy Athiya Munavarah, Dean, GVMCH, Dr. E. Sivakumar, Deputy Medical Superintendent, GVMCH and Dr. R. Arunan, Resident Medical Officer.
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