AGARTALA, August 2 (TIWN): Like every this year also, World Breastfeeding Week has been observed on Saturday at CMO office, Conel Choumuhani.

The initiative has been taken with an aim to aware the people about the importance of breast feeding for the new born child. the day will be observed from August 1 to 7.

During the programme, the dignitaries said that breastfeeding is the best way to give newborns the nutrients they need. Breast milk is highly nutritious with easy-to-digest proteins and natural immunities that protect babies against disease and infection.

They also said that the infant formula of milk does not have the antibodies that breast milk does, and therefore does not provide the same protection against common childhood diseases.

The dignitaries urged the ASHA workers and the Health workers to take proper initiatives to inform the people and to aware the mother about how important is the breast milk.

During the programme, Mission Director of NHM Sandeep N. Mahante, Member Secretary of NHM Dr. J Das, SPO, RCH Dr. Kamal Reang, BO Sriti Sankar Nath of NHM, PRO, DFWPM Parijat Datta and other were present at the programme.

The World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) theme on working women and breastfeeding revisits the 1993 WBW campaign on the Mother-Friendly Workplace Initiative.

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) was formed in 1991 to act on the Innocenti Declaration (1990) to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. As part of its action plan to facilitate and strengthen social mobilisation for breastfeeding, WABA envisioned a global unifying breastfeeding promotion strategy. A day dedicated to breastfeeding was suggested to be marked in the calendar of international events. The idea of a day's celebration was later turned into a week.

This has become to be known as World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) celebrated every 1-7 August to commemorate the Innocenti Declaration. WBW was first celebrated in 1992. Now it involves over 170 countries and is endorsed by UNICEF, WHO, FAO and IPA.