Mysuru: New-born infants must be breast-fed for a minimum of 18 months, said Dr. D. Sreenivasa Murthy, Professor, Department of Paediatrics, JSS Medical College and Hospital in city. 

He was speaking at the inauguration of World Breastfeeding Week, organised jointly by the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), Mysuru Chapter, JSS Medical College and Hospital and Mysore Medical College and Research Institute at the JSS Hospital Centenary Hall of JSS Multi-Specialty Hospital premises recently. 

In the foreign countries, infants are breast-fed for a period of two years, but in our country, majority of the mothers do no practise breast-feeding citing reasons of them losing their beauty and looks thus harming the child’s progress. Every child must be breast-fed as it helps in them developing good health, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Rajeshwari Madappa, President, IAP, Mysuru Chapter, called upon mothers to breast-feed new-borns for a minimum of six months as it helps develop immunity against various diseases.   

The Breast Feeding Week celebrations is being held between Aug. 1 and 7 at the Maternity Hospital in Jayalakshmipuram ( Aug. 2), Sigma Hospital in Saraswathipuram (Aug. 3), Narayana Multi-Speciality Hospital on Outer Ring Road and Apollo BGS Hospitals in Kuvempunagar (Aug.5). 

An awareness programme has also been organised at Teresian College on Aug. 6 followed by valedictory event on Aug. 7 at MMC&RI Platinum Jubilee Auditorium in J.K. Grounds.