National Level Webinar on the Celebration of World Breast Feeding Week – 2020

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1st Aug to 7th August to support exclusive breastfeeding in order to have healthy babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration signed in August 1990 by our policy makers,World Health Organization,UNICEF and other organizations to Protect, Promote and Support breastfeeding.

On this occasion, Department of OBG and Child Health Nursing of Kalinga Institute of Nursing Sciences organized a webinar on the theme “Support Breastfeeding for a Healthier Planet” in the virtual platform on 3rd August 2020 from 10 AM to 2 PM. The Objective of this Webinar was to showcase contribution of Nurses in the promotion of breast feeding and its impact to bring down Infant Mortality rate around the World. Around 250 participants from various institutions of India took part in this webinar.

The following Institutes Participated in this National Level Webinar:
RIMS from Ranchi, CON(Narayana Hrudalaya,Bangalore),DRIEMS from Cuttack,Hi-Tech CON from Bhubaneswar, Govt. College Of Nursing, Berhampur , St.Ursula ANM Nursing school from Konbir Noatoli, ANM School,Gridih,Jharkhand, SITE,Bolangir, SUM Nursing College,BBSR. Participants included faculties as well as students from KINS.

M.sc.(1styr,2ndyr) , BSc.(3rdyr), GNM ( 2nd year and 3rd year) students were the prime beneficiaries of this event. The webinar commenced with the welcome address by Prof.(Mrs)Amarita Lenka,Principal,Kalinga Institute of Nursing Sciences at 10AM. She highlighted on the importance of celebrating Breast feeding week around the world.

The first Session of the Webinar was taken by Prof.(Dr)Abhilekha Biswal, Principal, PG college of Nursing, Bhillai, Chattisgarh on the topic “Support Breastfeeding for Healthier Planet”. She enlightened participants on support, benefits, challenges and preparedness on breast feeding practices. Mrs.Geetarani Nayak, Asst. Professor, AIIMS, CON Bhubaneswar emphasized on “Optimizing Nutrition in Preterm Low Birth Infants”, her Session was highly informative.

The Third Session was taken by Dr.Bhuneswari Dash, Asst. Professor, Lt Smt.Sudhadevi Memorial Govt Nursing College, Kabirdham, Chhattisgarh on “Supporting Breastfeeding during COVID-19 Pandemic”, she cautioned participants against inappropriate use of infant formula milk and evading breastfeeding. Prof.(Mrs)Niyati Das,Vice-Principal,KINS, delivered a session on  “Infant Young Child Feeding”, she emphasized on the importance of  IYCF and the role of Health Care Provider, this was followed by a Session on “Breast Feeding Counseling” by Mrs. Kalyani Rath, Associate Professor, KINS. She enlightened Participants on the role of Nurses to encourage and support exclusive breastfeeding. The last session was conducted by Mrs. Purnima Sahoo, Assistant professor, KINS. She explained in detail about Lactation Management.

Mrs Niharibala Naik,Tutor (KINS) introduced all the speakers for the sessions.
Mrs S.Bhaktiswarupa,Tutor,KINS and the  team coordinated the webinar smoothly with ease. The webinar concluded with vote of thanks by Mrs. Aparna Moharana,Tutor, KINS. The E- Certificates will be mailed to the Speakers and Participants within a week.