The Nepali minister for Health and Population has urged all mothers to breastfeed their babies for the first six months to be followed by nutritious food and breast milk for at least two years, so as to keep them healthy and free from diseases.

In a message on the World Breastfeeding Week that starts Wednesday, Minister Girijaraj Mani Pokharel also asked all the mothers of the country to continue the tradition of breastfeeding babies right from birth and produce healthy citizens for the nation.

"Beginning breastfeeding within the 1st hour of birth" is the theme for this year's breastfeeding week, the minister said.

According to the message, the breastfeeding week is observed to ensure that families know how important a baby's first hour is, so that they can make sure that their babies are given this opportunity and to encourage health and other authorities to include the initiation of breastfeeding in the first hour as a key indicator for preventive health, among others.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2007)