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Published on August 16, 2007

Published on August 16, 2007

Chiang Rai

The award ceremony was held in honour of Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of her birthday on August 12, which was also National Mother's Day.

According to a 2006 survey by the Health Department, only 20 per cent of babies nationwide received breast milk as their sole food until the age of four months. Those who were breastfed util they turned six months accounted for only 14 per cent.

"Breast milk is the best food for babies," Vallop said. "It also bonds the tie between mothers and chil¬dren."

Vallop said his ministry had instructed more than 800,000 health volunteers across the country to pro¬mote breastfeeding.

"Wiang Pa Pao Hospital has done a very good job. Of the babies born at the hos¬pital last year, up to 40 per cent got breast milk as their sole food until they reached six months old," Vallop said.

In 2005, less than 10 per cent of babies born at the hospital relied on breast milk as their sole food until six months.

To avert the trend, the hospital advised expectant mothers on how best to take care of their pregnancies and how breast milk is the best food for their babies.

The Nation