ALIGARH, The Departments of IlmulAtfal, Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College and Hospital (AKTCH), and Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), observed World Breastfeeding Week with a range of awareness, educational and community outreach activities promoting optimal breastfeeding practices and maternal and child health.
Held under the theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” the programmes emphasised the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months, appropriate complementary feeding and continued breastfeeding.
The Department of IlmulAtfal programme, organised under the patronage of Prof. S. M. Safdar Ashraf, Chairperson and Dean, Faculty of Unani Medicine, with guidance from Prof. B. D. Khan, Principal, AKTCH, included awareness sessions for breastfeeding mothers attending the Outpatient Department (OPD), free health camps and a poster-making competition for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
An extension lecture by Dr.Abiha Ahmad Khan highlighted the role of breastfeeding in infant nutrition, immunity and healthy physical and cognitive development, while addressing common misconceptions about infant feeding.
The poster competition was judged by Dr. Jameel Ahmad, Department of Pharmacology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, and Dr. Shamshad Alam, Department of IlmulAdvia. Prof. Mohd Anwar, Prof. Mohd Mohsin, Dr. M. Shoaib and Dr. Nawal-ur-Rahman, among others, attended the programme. Alina Azmat received the first prize in the poster competition.
The programme was coordinated by Dr. Samreen Khan and Dr. Sana Jameel, with Dr. M. Anas and Dr. Diwan Israr Khan serving as Organising Secretaries.
The Department of Community Medicine, J.N. Medical College, under the guidance of Prof. Uzma Eram, Chairperson, observed World Breastfeeding Week 2026, culminating in a Valedictory Programme held at the Urban Health Training Centre (UHTC).
A series of activities were held through the week, including health talks at the UHTC, the Urban Health Post, Jamalpur, and an Anganwadi Centre, a Poster Making Competition for students of Sir Syed School, and a Slogan Making Competition among interns. These were supervised by Dr. Sana Nawab, Assistant Professor, Dr. Syed Sohaib Hashmi, Senior Resident, and Dr. Raj Yuvrajsinh, Junior Resident.
The Valedictory Programme was attended by Prof. Uzma Eram, Dr.Suboohi Afzal, Lady Medical Officer, UHTC, Dr. Sameena Ahmad, Assistant Professor, and Dr. Sana Nawab, along with Junior Residents, interns, MBBS and school students, UHTC staff, mothers and beneficiaries. It featured an exhibition of posters and slogans, evaluated by Prof. Eram and Dr. Afzal, with prizes distributed to the winners. Dr. Ayushi Gupta (JR-2) delivered a health education session on the benefits of breastfeeding and the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and the programme was compered by Dr. Rohan Kaushik (JR-1).
Three mothers, including Mrs. Anju, Mrs. Sajida, and Mrs. Sahanawere felicitated for practising exclusive breastfeeding for six months, inspiring other families in the community.
Source : Aligarh Muslim University News