A seminar was conducted on the theme ‘Step up for breastfeeding – education and support” for 24 nursing staff of Kasturba Hospital Manipal on August 3, 2022, between 3.00 pm and 4.30 pm. Dr. Binu Margaret and Dr. Yashoda spoke on the theme, benefits of breastfeeding, support needed and challenges faced during breastfeeding, early initiation of breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, attachment, positioning, and expression of breastmilk with the practical demonstrations.

To sensitize on breastfeeding and its importance in the hospital, lactation counseling was conducted on 25 mothers whose babies are admitted to the NICU of Kasturba Hospital Manipal by Dr. Sangeetha and Mrs. Sheela Shetty from August 1 to 6, 2022, and their concerns were addressed. Individual counseling was given to mothers who had concerns. Dr. Jayashree Purkayastha, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, KMC Manipal gave an awareness talk to 13 postnatal mothers and their caregivers on breastfeeding on 4^th August 2022, between 3.15 and 4.15 pm.

To sensitize on breastfeeding and nutrition issues in the community, the Department of Community Health Nursing, MCON, Manipal and Women Child Development Department, Udupi jointly conducted an awareness programme on 4^th August 2022 at 80 Badagubettu Anganawadi center between 11.00 am and 12.00 pm. Dr. Ansuya, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Community Health Nursing gave a talk on the importance of breastfeeding, composition of breast milk, various positions, and attachment while feeding. She stressed the importance of giving breastfeeding even while traveling and to avoid giving prelacteal feeding and formulae feeding. Mrs. Akshatha Nayak, Community Health Officer (CHO), Wellness Center, Badagubettu has explained in detail the benefits of breastfeeding and continued feeding. Mrs. Usha, President of Balavikas Samithi, and Mr. Keshav Kotian Gram Panchayath member emphasized to the audience to update their knowledge by attending these programmes and transform this information to the neighbors and in the community to minimize neonatal death and reduce malnutrition among children. The programme was attended by 20 antenatal and post-natal mothers and the mothers and caretakers of under-five children.  Also, Mrs. Resham Kotian, Mr. Rakesh Datta, Lecturer, MCON, one Anganwadi worker, and one ASHA worker participated in this programme.

As part of Azad ka Amrut Mahotsav, to reach out and promote awareness to a wider range of the public, a community awareness through an interview on ‘Empower parents and enable breastfeeding’ was given by Dr. Yashoda Sathish on FM Radio 90.4 on August 1, 2022, and was telecasted on 5th August 2022, 4.15 pm and 6^th August 2022 at 12.15 pm. 

Community awareness to the public on “Thayiya Ede Haalu Amrutha” was done by organizing an awareness program for the general public on 6th August 2022 through an interview on Spandana TV. Dr. Ansuya, Assistant Professor highlighted the theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2022, breastmilk production, preparation to be done by antenatal mothers to promote breastfeeding, positions of breastfeeding, diet during lactation, and briefly about the weaning diet. Mrs. Reshma Kotian, Lecturer explained on importance of early initiation of breastfeeding, the composition of breast milk, duration of providing breast milk, infant hunger cues, and tips for working mothers to continue breastfeeding. The program concluded by emphasizing the myths about diet for breastfeeding mothers and the responsibility of the family members and the general public on supporting mothers in breastfeeding. Mrs.  Bhavan Vishumurthy Keremata, Anchor of Spandana TV hosted the program.

A poster competition on Breastfeeding and Kangaroo Mother Care was organized by the Department of Pediatrics, KMC Manipal on 5^th August 2022 for the staff nurses of NICU, Kasturba Hospital Manipal. The staff of the NICU were divided into small teams of 3 members and prepared the posters.  A total of 51 staff nurses participates. The total number of the poster was 17. Prizes were distributed to the winners.

The valedictory program of the World Breastfeeding Week celebration was held on 6^th August 2022.  Dr. Leslie Lewis, HoD, Pediatrics, KMC, Manipal welcomes the gathering.  Emphasizing breastfeeding, he said, breastfeeding should be promoted every day in clinical practice. Dr. Binu Margaret gave an overview of the activities of World breastfeeding week 2022. The Chief Guest of the program, Dr. Pushpa G Kini, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, KMC, Manipal addressing the gathering, said breastfeeding helps in bonding and reduces the risk of diabetic mellitus and uterine cancers in mothers. She said breastfeeding is the best food for babies, it improves their intelligence and social skills, and lowers the risk of coronary heart disease. She called the health care professionals to be the ambassadors to promote and support breastfeeding. She congratulated the team for the excellent organization of the program. Dr. Judith A Noronha, Dean of MCON, in her address said that breastfeeding is a natural phenomenon and it is important to support working mothers to breastfeed their babies. She stressed the importance of breast assessment during the antenatal period to avoid breastfeeding-related problems in the later stage. She highlighted the importance of breast crawl and latching and focused on the need for continued education and support for the mothers. She also congratulated the team on the success of the program.

Prizes were distributed to the winners of the poster competition conducted for the staff nurses on breastfeeding and kangaroo mother care on 5^th August 2022 by the Department of Paediatrics, KMC Manipal. Dr. Baby S Nayak, HoD, Child Health Nursing thanked all the members. Mothers should be continually empowered and health care professionals should inform, anchor, engage and galvanize actions for breastfeeding. The whole program received a lot of appreciation. The event was hosted by Ms. Tenzin Phagdol.

The World Breastfeeding Week 2022 events were coordinated by Dr. Binu Margaret and Dr. Yashoda Sathish, Department of Child Health Nursing, and Dr. Ansuya from the Department of Community Health Nursing, MCON, Manipal.