Awareness Programme
Breast Feeding and its Necessity
An awareness program on breast milk feeding in West Bengal must tackle local challenges like the prevalence of pre-lacteal feeds (e.g., honey/sugar water) and the lack of family support due to socio-cultural beliefs.
Key initiatives include the national MAA (Mothers' Absolute Affection) Programme and state-level projects like the 'Madhur Sneha' Human Milk Bank in Kolkata.
Maintaining hygiene in daily life
Personal hygiene in West Bengal is a vital public health topic, with varying practices between urban and rural areas.
Handwashing and Sanitation: Efforts to improve Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) have led to increased access to improved sanitation facilities, although challenges like open defecation and the availability of soap at handwashing stations, particularly in rural and some disadvantaged areas, still exist.
WASH Disparities: Urban areas, especially Kolkata, generally show better access to improved WASH facilities and soap availability compared to some rural districts.
Food Hygiene: There are concerns regarding hygienic practices and food safety, particularly among street food vendors, which poses a risk of food and water-borne.
Menstrual Hygiene: Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) is a key area, with ongoing efforts needed to improve awareness, safe product usage, and appropriate disposal, especially in rural settings, to overcome taboos and ensure health.
