World Breastfeeding Week 2025

The Department of Child Health Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing (MCON), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), celebrated World Breastfeeding Week 2025 from 1st to 7th August 2025 on the theme “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems”. The celebration featured a series of educational and awareness activities focused on promoting breastfeeding and strengthening support systems for mothers and infants.

The aim was to strengthen the healthcare systems to support breastfeeding, advocate for policy changes, promote support at workplaces, and encourage individuals to prioritize breastfeeding and build lasting support systems.

The programs conducted to further the cause were: a session on the theme “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems” for nursing staff, an awareness program for postnatal mothers on breastfeeding, and a seminar on Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems“ for PBBSc Nursing, Diploma Nursing students, and BSc Nursing students.

The details of the programs and various activities conducted are given below:

Session for staff nurses on ‘Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems”

On 2nd August 2025, Dr. Mamatha S. Pai, Professor at Manipal College of Nursing (MCON), conducted a Breastfeeding Awareness Programme on the theme ‘‘Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems” for 17 staff nurses of Dr. T. M. A. Pai Hospital, Karkala, as part of industry-academia collaboration. The session focused on: The theme of World Breastfeeding Week, the advantages of breastfeeding for both mother and child, and effective techniques for breastfeeding. The interactive session provided a platform for nurses to raise concerns and clarify doubts, enhancing their confidence and competence in supporting new mothers. Feedback was taken from the participants. All the participants expressed that the sessions were informative and useful for improving professional knowledge and skills.

Awareness Program on Breastfeeding for Mothers and Caregivers:

To sensitize on breastfeeding and its importance in the hospital, an awareness program was conducted for the postnatal mothers and their caregivers on breastfeeding by Dr Binu Margaret, Assistant Professor- Selection Grade, Department of Child Health Nursing, MCON Manipal, on 5th August 2025, between 11:30 and 12:30 pm at the postnatal wards of Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. The session emphasized the importance of breastfeeding, early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding technique, attachment and positioning, the importance of support for mothers during breastfeeding, and overcoming common breastfeeding challenges. A total of 20 postnatal mothers and their caregivers, and seven students attended the session and clarified their concerns. Feedback was taken from the participants, and they reported that the sessions were useful to them.

Seminar on “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems“ for Nursing students

A Seminar on “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems” for P.B.B.Sc Nursing and GNM Nursing students of MCON and MSON, Manipal, was held on 6th August 2025. A total of 74 students participated actively, engaging in discussions and seeking clarifications on various aspects of breastfeeding. The session aimed to instill evidence-based practices and foster a supportive attitude toward maternal and child health.

A Seminar on “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems” for 5th Semester, B.Sc Nursing students of MCON, Manipal was held on 7th August 2025 at Lecture Hall 1, Basic Science Building, led by, focusing on nursing roles in promoting and sustaining breastfeeding practices. The session was delivered by Dr Binu Margaret, focusing on the theme and the importance of workplace and healthcare support systems for successful breastfeeding practices. The session also highlighted the benefits of breastfeeding, breastfeeding technique, attachment, positioning, ways to identify enough milk and expression of breastmilk, support needed, and challenges faced during breastfeeding, early initiation of breastfeeding, and skin-to-skin contact. The programs were well-received by the participants, fostering awareness, skills, and commitment towards breastfeeding promotion. A total of 128 students attended the session.

The World Breastfeeding Week contributed to the Sustainable Development Goals 3- Good health and wellbeing, and SDG 4- Quality education. The total beneficiaries of the program were around 246 (209 students, 20 postnatal mothers, and 17 staff nurses). Participant feedback reflected a strong engagement and enthusiasm, aligning with the global call to create sustainable breastfeeding support systems for healthier mothers and babies.

The World Breastfeeding Week 2025 events were coordinated by Dr Mamatha S Pai and Dr Binu Margaret from the Department of Child Health Nursing, MCON Manipal