Tata Power : celebrates World Breast Feeding week 2017 at Bhira and Mulshi

Tata Power, India's largest integrated power company, has always worked towards promoting a healthy lifestyle among communities living in and around its project locations. In continuation with this philosophy, Tata Power's Community Development Trust (TPCDT) celebrated World Breastfeeding Week 2017 by engaging with women at Bhira and Mulshi in Maharashtra. The program was organized by TPCDT, with support from reputed institutes like SCOPE (Symbiosis Community Outreach Program & Extension) and Academics Symbiosis Centre of Health Care, Pune.

The objective of the campaign was to inform, anchor, engage, and galvanize women by educating antenatal, postnatal care mothers, and adolescent girls about safe breast-feeding practices, and strengthening women committees on preventive health care as well as making them aware of the maternity protection entitlements from various Government scheme. The various benefits of breastfeeding were explained to the women, and several myths and misconceptions around the same were diffused. The sessions were conducted by accomplished resource persons who educated the audiences on initiation of breast feeding at infant birth, as well as the importance of early and exclusive breast feeding for infants.

Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Mahesh Paranjpe, head, Chief Hydro & Renewable, Tata Power, said,'Tata Power has always tried to work towards improving the health and wellbeing of the communities living around its areas of operation. Women and child health care has always been an area of focus for Tata Power, as they are one of the most underserved section of society. Through the celebration of World Breast Feeding week we have tried to reach out to women in Bhira and Mulshi areas to educate them on the importance of this health practice for them as well as their infants. We are grateful for the support we received from SCOPE (Symbiosis Community Outreach Program & Extension) and Academics Symbiosis Centre of Health Care, Pune, along with ICDS and Health Dept. from Government of Maharashtra in making this event a success.'

The comprehensive program also included sessions on balanced nutritional intake required by lactating mothers daily, to provide milk for their child. The women were also introduced to simple statistics on breast feeding as per NFHS (National Family and Health Survey) -4 data. Apart from this, women were also informed about common challenges mothers encounter during breast feeding like improper traditional practices, lack of correct knowledge, aggressive marketing of baby foods, and family pressure to introduce formula.

The women were also introduced CSR initiatives implemented by Tata Power Community Development Trust with focus on Adolescent Girls, Pregnant and Lactating Women with the coordination of ICDS, Health Department from Government and reputed NGOs. The women from Bhira and Mulshi truly appreciated the efforts of TPCDT and took home useful information that will help them improve the health and wellbeing of the infants and antenatal or postnatal mothers in their communities.