Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Healthy baby contest held

—Photo:M. Moorthy

CHUBBY CHEEK: Babies being assessed for the healthy baby contest at K.A.P.Viswanatham Government Medical College Hospital in Tiruchi on Wednesday.

TIRUCHI: Over 50 newborns and babies below one year were weighed and their developmental milestones and motor development checked at the healthy baby contest conducted at K.A.P.Viswanatham Government Medical College Hospital on Wednesday.

The event, held as a part of World Breastfeeding Week celebrations, was to educate mothers on health and hygiene factors that were crucial for physical and mental development of the children.

In his presidential address, college Dean P. Ravishankar observed that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six month increased the nutrient-absorbing capacity of children and determined their well-being. He urged the mothers to learn the right ways to breastfeed children and avoid buying breast milk substitutes. Working mothers could feed the babies with expressed breast milk which could be refrigerated. A team of doctors including professor of Paediatrics R. R. Rajendran, president of Indian Association of Paediatrics S. Paneerselvam and assistant professor of Paediatrics V. Mythili assessed the babies.

Exclusive breastfeeding till six months was mandatory for participation of babies. They checked out the complementary feeding after six months, the hygiene measures taken by the parents, immunisation schedule, height and weight. “The competition is not meant for attractive chubby babies. We assess factors that determine the health of the babies,” said Dr. Paneerselvam. Mrinalini, a 10-month-old girl, was awarded the ‘Health baby of the year’ title. Hospital Deputy Superintendent N. Pugazhendhi also spoke.

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