kolkata connecting breastfeeding practice with climate change the chief of field office unicef west bengal md mohiuddin on friday said breast milk substitutes production packaging transportation of processed milk which increases the emission of major greenhouse gases ghgs like carbon dioxide methane which results in climate change and global warmingthe views were shared in a webinar organised by unicef in collaboration with health and family welfare women and child development and social welfare departments of bengal government to observe the world breastfeeding week wbw on friday it was attended by saumitra mohan mission director nhm ms rachana bhagat director dr ajay kumar chakraborty director of health services dr debashis bhattacharya director medical educationthere is no alternative to breast milk and the production of substitutes causes environmental damage and climate change breastfeeding is not a lifestyle choice it is an imperative for the wellbeing of the child and mother and breast milk is ecologically the safest food so lets support breast feeding for saving our children and our environment experts echoed this theme the infant milk substitute act 2003 provides for the regulation of production supply and distribution of infant milk substitutes feeding bottles and infant foods with a view to protection and promotion of breastfeeding and ensuring the proper use of infant foods and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto breastfeeding is natural it will safeguard our natural resources said mohiuddin unicef reiterated that breastfeeding provides a healthy practical nonpolluting low cost sustainable and natural source of nutrition it safeguards infant health and nutrition even in times of emergencies it also needs less energy as it reduces the need for water firewood and fossil fuels at home unlike formula food preparationsaumitra mohan mission director nhm said dont get swayed by the advertisements of breast milk substitutes by different companies especially in the covid times we should promote breastfeeding even among the positive mothers as per guidelines mothers must continue breastfeeding up to the first 1000 days of life breastfeeding not only saves lives but also helps the babies to grow well develop optimally and become healthy and productive citizens of the country and the world it is a shield for babies who are born to a covid positive mother said dr kaninika mitra health specialist unicef west bengalreiterating this years theme of wbw farheen khurshid nutrition specialist unicef west bengal provided an overview to all the participants the how breastfeeding practice is connected with serious climate change related issues like carbon footprint and the emission of major greenhouse gasesunicef west bengal supported five district administrations including purulia malda d dinajpur south 24 parganas and murshidabad in systematically planning and implementing effective social mobilization and community engagement for breastfeeding week 2020 using a blend of online and community platformsspecial focus has been given on the theme supporting breastfeeding for a healthier environment malda and purulia held webinars on breastfeeding for the district officials and all icds and nrc functionaries the webinars focused on the theme support breastfeeding for a healthier