Minister Seethakka Calls for Mass Awareness Drive to Mark World Breastfeeding Week

Telangana Women and Child Welfare Minister Dr. Danasari Anasuya Seethakka has urged officials to ensure the successful observance of World Breastfeeding Week (August 1–7) by conducting large-scale awareness programmes across the state and reaching every mother and family with the message on the importance of breastfeeding.

Reviewing the preparations, the minister directed officials not to treat the annual observance as a routine government event but to transform it into a public awareness movement that promotes scientific understanding of breastfeeding and encourages active community participation.

Calling breast milk a newborn's first right and nature's most complete source of nutrition, Seethakka said the first milk produced after childbirth, known as colostrum, serves as a baby's first natural immunity against infections. She stressed that every newborn should be breastfed within the first hour of birth, while exclusive breastfeeding should continue for the first six months. After that, mothers should introduce age-appropriate complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding until the child reaches two years of age, ensuring healthy physical and mental development.

The minister instructed officials to organise awareness meetings, door-to-door campaigns and community outreach programmes in Anganwadi centres, villages and urban wards throughout Telangana. She also directed Anganwadi teachers, helpers, supervisors, ASHA workers, Women and Child Welfare Department officials and Health Department staff to work in coordination and visit both government and private hospitals to provide counselling to pregnant women, lactating mothers and parents on recommended breastfeeding practices.

Seethakka also stressed the need to eliminate misconceptions about breastfeeding through scientific awareness and called upon family members to actively support nursing mothers. She instructed hospitals to ensure that every baby receives breast milk within an hour of birth and said every Anganwadi centre should evolve into a guidance hub for maternal and child health.

Reaffirming the government's commitment to building a malnutrition-free Telangana, the minister appealed to public representatives, doctors, women's organisations, voluntary groups and every family to actively participate in making World Breastfeeding Week a meaningful and successful statewide campaign.