Mysuru: Nutrition Society of India, Mysore Chapter, Mysuru, in association with the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Yuvaraja’s College (Autonomous), University of Mysore, Mysuru, had organised a week-long activities to celebrate National Nutrition Week (Sept. 1-7) at the College premises recently. The theme was ‘Optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices: Better Child Health.’

Dr. B. Basavarja, District Health and Family Welfare Officer, Mysuru, inaugurated the programme. In his address, he emphasised on infant and young children feeding practices to maintain better health. He also briefed about WHO and UNICEF’s guidelines on the above theme. WHO guidelines say that the children should be nourished with mother’s milk exclusively for the first six months. Later the children should be breast-fed up to two years along with supplement feeding for healthy development. Mothers and young children diet must consist of balanced diet formula using all the food groups.

On this occasion, Laboratory Manuals prepared by the teachers for the benefit of students were released by the dignitaries.

The function was presided over by Dr. B.M. Venkatesh, Controller of Examination, Yuvaraja’s College (Autonomous), University of Mysore, Mysuru. P.S. Prasad, Liasion Officer, B.N. Bhadur Institute of Management Studies, Mysuru and S. Vishwanath, Chairman of Vishwa Prajna Educational Institution, were the chief guests of the programme and opined that the mother and children should be fed with nutritious food to combat malnutrition.

Dr. M.S. Mahesh, Asst. Professor, briefed on the theme.