BGS Medical College and Hospital Conducts Breastfeeding Awareness Programme at Abbigere Urban Health Training Centre
In observance of World Breastfeeding Week 2026, the Departments of Paediatrics and Community Medicine at BGS Medical College and Hospital collaborated to host a comprehensive awareness initiative at the Urban Health Training Centre in Abbigere on August 6, 2026. This Day 2 event underscored the institutional commitment to maternal and child health by providing essential clinical knowledge and practical guidance to the local community. The programme aimed to bridge the gap between medical expertise and public practice, ensuring that mothers and caregivers are equipped with scientifically backed information regarding infant nutrition.
Dr. Sindhu Shankar S, Assistant Professor from the Department of Community Medicine, opened the session by discussing the critical psychological and physiological benefits of early maternal intervention. She emphasized the clinical importance of rooming in and the early initiation of breastfeeding, noting that these practices are fundamental to establishing a strong bond between mother and child while ensuring the newborn receives vital colostrum. Her discourse highlighted how frequent breastfeeding acts as a primary preventative measure for various neonatal health complications.
The technical aspects of infant care were further addressed by Dr. Mamatha, Assistant Professor from the Department of Paediatrics. She provided a detailed demonstration of correct breastfeeding techniques, focusing on the precision of positioning and attachment to ensure effective feeding and maternal comfort. Dr. Mamatha also elaborated on the unique nutritional composition of breast milk, which serves as the gold standard for infant development and offers long term immunological protection that synthetic alternatives cannot replicate.
Adding a creative and educational dimension to the event, nursing students from the BGS Vignathan Institute of Nursing Sciences performed an instructional skit. The performance was strategically designed to debunk common myths and cultural misconceptions that often hinder optimal breastfeeding practices. Through this engaging medium, the students successfully communicated complex health messages to a diverse audience including local mothers and Accredited Social Health Activists. The programme concluded with an interactive discussion, reinforcing the collective responsibility of healthcare providers and the community to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding as a cornerstone of public health.
