Aligarh : Awareness events, health talks, debate and slogan writing competitions and discussions were organized by the Department of Community Medicine, J.N. Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) to mark the World Breastfeeding week with the theme “Enabling, breastfeeding: making a difference for working parents”.

Prof. Veena Maheswari, Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Chief Guest of the closing ceremony of the Week appreciated the dedication of the team of the Department of Community Medicine for organizing the week-long events smoothly in the leadership of Prof Saira Mehnaz, Chairperson of the Department.

Prof Maheshwari felicitated the judges of the debate and distributed prizes to the winners. She congratulated the department for organizing a diverse range of innovative and engaging activities, particularly in the field areas with active community involvement.

Earlier, Prof. Saira Mehnaz welcomed the guests and explained the significance of observing breastfeeding week.

Dr. Uzma Eram (Member Incharge, Rural Health Training Centre, Department of Community Medicine and Dr. Ali Jafar Abedi, Member Incharge, Urban Health Training Centre, Department of Community Medicine briefed about the activities that were held. Senior Residents Dr. Shivangi Kumari (RHTC) and Dr. Karthika P (UHTC and Department) presented detailed reports.

Miss Safiyah and Mohammed Hamza Khan (2022 batch MBBS) won the first prize in the debate competition while the second prize was bagged by the team of Mohammad Asharul Huda and Talha Khan (2022 batch MBBS). Dr. Jowairiya T Khan, Dr.Isna Rafat Khan, and Dr. Hardik Jain (2018 batch interns) won the prizes for Slogan writing.

The prize winners of the painting competition at NGO ASRA for Women were Anamta Yasmeen, Sajya Shaikh, and Nazma Khan. The interns of the 2018 batch who took part in the Nukkad Natak were also felicitated.

Dr.Chandan Kumar Tiwari, Junior Resident proposed a vote of thanks in the closing ceremony.

Prof. Saira Mehnaz informed that the motion for the debate held at the Department of Community Medicine was: “The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles, and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply, and Distribution) Act in India has been moving in the right direction.”

Seven teams comprising two members participated in the debate. The judges of the event were: Dr.Safia Habib (Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, JNMC) and Dr. Nema Usman (Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, JNMC). The moderator of the debate was Dr. Karthika P, Senior Resident. The event concluded with the closing remarks of the judges and the distribution of the participation certificates.

During the week-log celebrations many activities were conducted at the Urban Health Training Centre (UHTC), Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC), Jawan and at the field practice areas including Anganwadi Centre, schools, family adoption program village, CHC, NGOs, etc. This year the event was held in collaboration with the Department of Home Science, AMU, and ASRA for Women, an NGO. Various activities were conducted.