Mangalore: The Yenepoya Medical College Principal Dr. Ghulam Jilani Kadiri endorsed the current scientifically proved opinion that a newborn child has to be fed with its mother’s milk, in other words, for the child, breast-milk of its mother is the best nutritious food for upto 6 months, often going beyond to cure any of its diseases. The mothers have to know this need for certain, he confirmed.
Dr. Khadiri was presiding over a programme related to Universal breast-feeding week2011, organized by women and children’s Welfare department, with Human Resource Development ministry’s Food Nutrition Council, assisted by the Children’s Division in Yenepoya MC, on Monday afternoon, in the Academic block of YMC here.
Chief Guest and Dy. Director of Women/Children’s Welfare Dept., Ms. Shakuntala stressed upon the need to create a strong human society, by taking interest in the health of pregnant women and young mothers by Health and Welfare department together. She referred to some very good medical institutions we have in coastal districts, along with state schemes like ‘Bala Sanjeevini’ for children, which the students could use for the proper care of babies in DK, Udupi and Chikkamagalur, she added.
Registrar of Yenepoya University K Janardhana lighted the traditional lamp to inaugurate the week’s programme.
It is stated by N.Srinivas that annually, 14 lakhs babies die after a month of existence, as in Africa and poor countries of Asia due to malnutrition. About 22% of such cases could be protected for a longer life, he hopefully said.
The children need 6 months of mother’s breast-feeding to survive, said Dr. Srinivas (FNB).
HoD, Children’s division in YMC, Dr.Prakash Saldanha, welcomed the gathering. The doctors had a technical discussion meet, later on.