| News Details |
| Indian origin USA girl to spread awareness on breast feeding | |
Jammu, May 25 (Scoop News) – Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar have collaborated with Shivani Sud, a research fellow from a United States University to establish a groundbreaking breastfeeding and counseling program focused on early initiation of breast feeding. The counseling program provides mothers crucial information and techniques that will remove many obstacles to initiating breastfeeding.
Shivani Sud, Martin A. Dale Fellow from Princeton University, New Jersey, USA, is working to promote women and children’s health in J&K through novel education initiatives and programs. Sud is born and raised in USA but originally native to Jammu. She independently chose to come to Jammu and contribute to women and children’s health welfare.
“Scientific research has shown that we can reduce the neonatal mortality rate by 16% by initiating breastfeeding on the first day and 22% by initiating breastfeeding within the 1st hour. Our study has shown that prior to the counseling program women who delivered in an institutional setting often waited until day 3-4 to initiate breastfeeding. The delay in breastfeeding initiation reduces the baby’s access to the mother’s nutritious and immune system-boosting first milk known as colostrum and significantly increases the neonate’s death risk,” Sud said.
J&K has a neonatal and infant mortality ratio of 32 and 41 per 1000 live births, respectively according to 2011 PES data. These ratios persist despite relatively high immunization rates and low rates of malnutrition and anemia. Thus, evidence suggests additional methods are needed to attempt to reduce the neonatal and infant mortality rates. Estimates from Save the Children Fund suggest over 200,000 infant deaths in India can be prevented through proper breastfeeding.
Dr. Anil Mehta, Consultant in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Government Hospital, Gandhi Nagar, has been instrumental and dedicated in promoting this cause and program. The counseling program has already assisted hundreds of mother-neonate pairs. The hospital estimates well over 1,000 women per year will be positively impacted by this initiative. If other institutions statewide use the model started at Government Hospital, Gandhi Nagar, the effects will be profound.
“The program I developed and launched in collaboration with Government Hospital, Gandhi Nagar provides families and new mothers critical information and support to initiate early exclusive breastfeeding. By introducing new breastfeeding techniquesto mothers, we can initiate breastfeeding even if the patient cannot sit or move after normal or cesarean birth” Sud said.
The support provided to patients includes individually working one-on-one with mothers to assist them with latching the newborn to the breast for the first time. “This information should be shared with all women, including women in rural areas. We should produce videos and pamphlets in local languages. Through this one act, we have the potential to save lives of infants in our great state of Jammu and Kashmir,” said Dr. Romesh Gupta, Medical Superintendent, Government Hospital, Gandhi Nagar.
The components developed for the counseling program include training material for staff and access to information for patients in “Maternal and Newborn Health: A guide to caring for your newborn, authored by Shivani Sud.
... |
| |
|
|
Share this Story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|