Observing World
Breastfeeding Week, Vedanta Aluminium, the largest aluminium producer in India,
has undertaken comprehensive endeavours to promote and support breastfeeding
among rural communities in the vicinity of its operations in Odisha and
Chhattisgarh. Focused on remote locations that have limited access to quality
healthcare and often rely on unscientific myths for medical care, the week-long
campaign was aimed at creating awareness among new mothers on the benefits of
breastfeeding for both the mother and child. This would in turn contribute to
improving overall maternal health and reducing infant mortality rates in the
region.
Its efforts were centred
around the company’s Nand Ghars, which are modernized anganwadis supported by
Vedanta that act as free hubs of women and child development. Over 531 Nand
Ghars supported by the company in Odisha observed World Breastfeeding Week in
association with the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) department of
the Government of India, reaching out to more than 5,500 lactating mothers and
children. Video demonstrations were organised, spreading awareness on topics
such as lactating techniques, feeding frequency, complimentary diet, and
others. The company also undertook an extensive door-to-door campaign to help
spread awareness on better health practices on the occasion.
Over 35 rallies and
community awareness meetings on breastfeeding were held at key community
locations in Jharsuguda, Odisha alone, in addition to its door-to-door
campaigns. They reached out to more than 400 community members and 60 PRI
(panchayat raj institutions) members. These efforts were supplemented by the
company’s Mobile Health Units, who reached out to very remote locations where
residents are unable to access proper healthcare. Further, more than 50 Auxiliary Nurse &
Midwives (ANMs) and ASHA Workers joined the company’s efforts in educating
community members by busting myths, highlighting the long-term health advantages
for mothers and babies, and empowering women with the facts and methods they
need to successfully sustain a healthy breastfeeding practice.
The Vedanta Hospital in
Lanjigarh, Odisha which caters to nearly 60,000 people each year, also
contributed to the occasion by conducting six impactful awareness camps, led by
expert paediatricians and specialists. The campaign also included the distribution
of vital nutritional supplements and dispelling myths surrounding
breastfeeding. Experts from the BALCO Medical Centre in Raipur and the BALCO
Hospital in Korba, both in Chhattisgarh, conducted awareness on breastfeeding
and breast cancer awareness in several locations across the state. A health
camp, featuring expert gynaecologists, was also organised in collaboration with
the district health department.
Speaking
on the significance of World Breastfeeding Week, Dr. Dolamani Patel, Chief
District Medical Officer, Jharsuguda said, “As we celebrate World
Breastfeeding Week, it is crucial to highlight the importance and health
benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child. I commend Vedanta
Aluminium for its unwavering commitment to promoting safer breastfeeding
practices, which will further encourage the adoption of breastfeeding among
mothers in the community. Their efforts have empowered countless mothers with
knowledge and resources to take care of themselves and their children, thereby
ensuring better maternal and child well-being, and fostering a brighter and
healthier tomorrow for our communities.”
Vedanta Aluminium has
deployed an extensive array of essential and specialized healthcare services
encompassing the regions in and around its areas of operations:
• Mobile
Health Units: These are well-equipped mobile units that
deliver basic doorstep healthcare services according to a predetermined
schedule. The initiative benefits more than 54,000 people annually in remote
villages across Jharsuguda and over 22,000 patients in 65 villages within
Kalahandi district.
• Nayi
Kiran, menstrual health program: Deployed in Chhattisgarh,
the project creates awareness on menstrual health & hygiene, builds
capacity on manufacturing of sanitary products, and develops local champions of
menstrual health.
• Health
Camps: Vedanta Aluminium regularly hosts large-scale health
camps, in partnership with medical experts from its own centres and also from
government hospitals. They provide free, high-quality healthcare in remote
areas.
• Sanitation
Drives: To promote health and hygiene within the community, the
company organizes cleanliness and sanitation drives. These initiatives
encourage practices like proper handwashing. Additionally, employee volunteers
contribute to cleaning and disinfecting drains and streets, contributing to the
prevention of infectious diseases.
• Rural
Health Posts: Under its ‘Arogya Project’, its subsidiary
BALCO is providing quality primary health care services through Rural Health
Posts, benefiting thousands of people hailing from the neighbouring
communities.
Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.29 million tonnes in FY23. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow. www.vedantaaluminium.com
