Declamation Contest held on occasion of World Breast Feeding Week at DMCH

Ludhiana, August 9, 2014: On the occasion of World Breast Feeding Week, Department of Pediatrics, DMCH, Ludhiana today organised a declamation contest, in which Post Graduate residents of Pediatrics and Obstetrics & Gynecology participated. The judges, during the declamation contest were Principal Dr Daljit Singh, Dr HS Bains (Professor & Head of Pediatrics), Dr Deepak Bhat, Dr Sunil Juenja and Dr AS Chawla.

According to Dr Harmesh Singh Bains (Professor & Head of Pediatrics), World Breast Feeding Week is celebrated every year in the first week of August to commemorate the declaration signed in August 1990 by Government policymakers, WHO, UNICEF and other international organizations to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. The slogan and theme for World Breast Feeding Week this year is ‘Breastfeeding: A Winning goal for life’. Breastfeeding is not only safe clean, hygienic and cheap but it also prevents malnutrition and reduced infant mortality, suggested Dr Bains.

 In his message, Principal Dr Daljit Singh said that  “Breast milk is the ideal food for an infant and the Intelligent Quotient (IQ) of a breast-fed child was found to be higher than a baby that was not breast-fed. He further said that under normal conditions, no other food was required by the baby until six months from the birth.

During the declamation contest, the participants highlighted about various advantages of breastfeeding. It was highlighted that the composition of breast milk is ideally suited to baby’s intestines and so is easily digestible. Breast milk also contains antibodies which help protect the children against illness such as gastroenteritis, cold, urinary infections and ear infections. Breast milk reduces the risk of baby getting allergic reactions such as asthma and eczema