First mother’s milk bank opened

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right move:Rohini Ramdas, Project Officer, DRDA (left), at the breast milk bank in Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai on Monday.— Photo: S. James
right move:Rohini Ramdas, Project Officer, DRDA (left), at the breast milk bank in Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai on Monday.— Photo: S. James

All OP wards in GRH to have dedicated rooms for mothers

The first mother’s milk bank in the district, an initiative of the State government, was inaugurated at Government Rajaji Hospital here on Monday as a part of the Breastfeeding Week celebrations.

“Pre-term babies, babies whose mothers are under medical care and cannot breast feed as well as orphaned babies will greatly benefit from this bank. Since there are many mothers from across Madurai district and the surrounding areas, who come here for their delivery and maternal health care, we will counsel them about donating milk and encourage them to visit the facility in the hospital,” said S. Balasankar, Professor of Paediatrics.

He further said that for newborn babies brought to the GRH from nearby districts soon after birth for health reasons and separated from their mothers, the milk available in the bank would be helpful in building up their immune system.

The breast milk after being collected and put in a deep freezer can be used for over six months.

Dean of Madurai Medical College Rewvathy Kailairajan said that breast milk went a long way in helping build the immune system of babies. “From today, all outpatient wards at the Government Rajaji Hospital will have dedicated rooms for mothers to breastfeed their babies,” she stated.

RajajiMothersMilkCF04aug2015

Ms. Rohini Ramdas, who was present at the inauguration, said that with the opening of separate rooms at bus shelters and dedicated rooms in the outpatients ward of the GRH, more workplaces and public places should step up and have assigned rooms to enable mothers breastfeed their babies.

Awareness needed

“Studies indicate that six per cent of the newborns in the State do not get mother’s milk. With the opening of this bank, I hope that more babies get access to mother’s milk. There needs to be more awareness about the availability of such facilities among people so that the babies can be given adequate care,” she also said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Madurai / by Staff Reporter / Madurai – August 04th, 2015