Radhika Sarathkumar Joins MGM Healthcare’s World Breastfeeding Week Awareness Programme in Chennai
Chennai: More than 100 young mothers, along with paediatric, neonatal, obstetrics and gynaecology experts, participated in a World Breastfeeding Week awareness programme organised by MGM Healthcare in Chennai.
Veteran actor and politician Radhika Sarathkumar and Dr. Urjitha Rajagopalan, Managing Director, MGM Healthcare, presided over the event. The programme was also attended by Dr. Chandra Kumar, Senior Consultant and Head of Paediatrics and Neonatology; Dr. Deepa Easow, Senior Consultant, Paediatrics and Neonatology; and Dr. Pilli Govardhan, Senior Consultant, Neonatology, MGM Healthcare.
Awareness Activities for Young Mothers
As part of the week-long observance, MGM Healthcare organised a series of educational and interactive activities, including:
- Poster competition
- Rangoli competition
- Reels competition for lactating mothers
- Well-baby contest based on exclusive breastfeeding practices
The activities were aimed at increasing awareness among young mothers about the role of breastfeeding in infant growth, immunity and overall health.
Experts Address Breastfeeding Concerns
The concluding programme featured an interactive session involving specialists from Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Neonatology and lactation care. The session provided an opportunity for lactating mothers to discuss concerns and address common misconceptions related to breastfeeding.
World Breastfeeding Week is observed globally from August 1 to 7 to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding for infants. The 2026 theme is “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” which focuses on tracking progress, evaluating impact and scaling approaches that improve breastfeeding outcomes.
The programme was conducted with the participation of MGM Healthcare’s Paediatrics and Neonatology and Obstetrics and Gynaecology departments under their ‘Varam’ initiative.
Support Systems for Breastfeeding
Speaking at the event, Dr. Urjitha Rajagopalan, Managing Director, MGM Healthcare, highlighted the importance of support systems for mothers, including families, caregivers, healthcare institutions, workplaces and society.
She said that strengthening these support systems is important to help mothers make informed choices and receive the care and assistance required to continue breastfeeding.
Dr. Chandra Kumar, Senior Consultant and Head of Paediatrics and Neonatology, said breastfeeding provides essential nutrition for newborns and emphasised the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months.
He also stressed the need to provide mothers with adequate support, information and encouragement to enable exclusive breastfeeding.
