NewzVille Desk
World Breastfeeding Week 2026 was observed nationwide from August 1–7. To mark the occasion, the premier health institution, the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, hosted a series of week-long programs on its campus.
Department of Kaumarbhritya and Department of Stree Roga Prasuti Tantra, AIIA have conducted Plantation Drive, Public Awareness Campaign, Poster Presentation Competition and Guest Lecture on Breastfeeding.
Prof. (Vd.) P.K. Prajapati, Director, AIIA, participated in the plantation drive and planted saplings of medicinal plants such as Shatavari, Guduchi, Bala, Patha etc. along with Prof. (Dr.) Rajagopala, HoD; and faculties – Dr. Mahapatra Arun Kumar, Dr. Prashant Kumar Gupta, Dr. Karthik KP. Ph.D. and PG scholars of the Department also participated in the event.
The hospital campus also hosted public awareness programs, with doctors highlighting the benefits of breastfeeding for newborns.
A poster presentation competition was held to foster scholarly interest and encourage engagement in the topic of breastfeeding.
In line with the week’s events, pediatric professors Dr. Pradeep Kumar Debata and Dr. Anita Yadav from VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, delivered a guest lecture sharing valuable insights on breastfeeding.
With the Support of World Health Orgaization, UNICEF and many Ministries of Health and civil society partners, World Breastfeeding Week is held in the first week of August every year.
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival and yet currently, fewer than half of infants under 6 months old are exclusively breastfed.
In 2018, a World Health Assembly resolution endorsed World Breastfeeding Week as an important health promotion strategy. With a different theme each year, it aims to promote the enabling environments that help women to breastfeed – including support in the community and the workplace, with adequate protections in government policies and laws – as well as sharing information on breastfeeding benefits and strategies.
