Nepal, Aug. 4 -- Initiating breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and continuing it for up to two years can significantly improve the health of both mothers and children, the Nutrition Section under the Family Welfare Division (FWD) has said. Marking World Breastfeeding Week, the section has urged mothers to begin breastfeeding immediately after childbirth, calling it one of the simplest and most effective ways to give newborns a healthy start in life.

This year's World Breastfeeding Week is being observed under the theme, "Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: Strengthen what works."

According to the Nutrition Section, colostrum-the first milk produced within an hour of childbirth-is rich in nutrients and disease-fight...