Port Blair, July 31: World Breastfeeding Week will be observed from 1st August to 7th August, 2024 with the theme ‘Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all’. The theme emphasizes on the support of the father, the family, the healthcare force and the community to breastfeeding. It encompasses creation of safe and supportive environment where mothers can breastfeed comfortably and confidently with focused attention across all the delivery points to improve early initiation of breastfeeding and providing adequate support to the new mothers.
Promotional activities to create awareness on importance of exclusive breastfeeding till 6 months of age along with continued breastfeeding till 2 years or beyond need to be intensified through capacity building and engagement of stakeholders of both public and private institutions. The activities will be conducted at community and facility level through the health care providers utilizing the contact opportunities during this week in all Health Institution of A&N Islands to promote breastfeeding.