Odisha government launched a state-wide awareness campaign to promote complementary feeding practices

Bhubaneswar: 4/9/18:The Odisha government today launched a state-wide awareness campaign to promote complementary feeding practices for the optimal growth of children between 6 months and 24 months.

The state-wide awareness campaign, launched by the Women and Children Development department and Mission Shakti, will be extended from 2018 to the end of 2019 in collaboration with the Health and Family Welfare department and UNICEF.

Women and Child Development department Minister Prafulla Samal released the campaign IEC material and a compendium of nutritious recipes using locally available foods. The minister also offered Anna Prasanna to three and six-month-old children along with the Principal Secretary of the department. One IEC van carrying the messages was also flagged off by the minister on the occasion.

Right food at the right age with adequate nutrition is required for optimal growth and development of a child. After six months, an infant needs both breast milk and complementary foods — i.e. solid, semi-solid or soft foods to ensure that infants grow and develop to their full potential.

Messages on the frequency of meals and dietary diversity, the need to continue with breastfeeding along with solid foods and age-appropriate complementary foods will be shared again and again using different forms of communication.

Recognising the importance of complementary foods and feeding practices for the young children, Women and Child Development department and Mission Shakti in collaboration with Health and Family Welfare department and UNICEF are initiating this campaign across the state.