Department of Pediatrics, M S Ramaiah Medical College & Teaching Hospital (MSRMC) conducted breastfeeding counselling workshop for doctors and nurses recently as part of the World Breastfeeding Week.

The hospital, that has an established breastfeeding counselling training cell, aims at protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding practices.

The workshop, inaugurated by Prof Kumar, Principal and Dean, MSRMC, had doctors and nurses participating. This was followed by discussions on various topics on breastfeeding. About 85 participants from various hospitals, nursing homes and nursing colleges participated.

The main aim of such workshops, as stated in a release, is to meet the increasing demand for counselling, to advance research on breastfeeding practices and to train health care professionals (pediatricians, obstetricians, faculty of community medicine, anesthetists) and NGOs in the country.

Organisations such as WHO/ UNICEF, World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and IBFAN, along with more than 200 international agencies all over the globe celebrate World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) every year.

The theme for this year’s workshop was ‘Breastfeeding: the first hour save one million babies.’  Many doctors spoke on related issues..