Jayalalithaa also declared open seven mother’s milk banks at government hospitals in the state, through video-conferencing
Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa
Chennai: Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Monday inaugurated 351 breastfeeding centres for the convenience of travelling and working mothers. She also declared open seven mother’s milk banks at government hospitals in the state, through video-conferencing.
An official release said the event formed part of the World Breast-feeding Week observed during the first week of this month. ‘Breastfeeding and Work-Let’s Make it Work’ is the theme for the seven-day breastfeeding week. The rooms will have adequate ventilation, privacy, washing facility and drinking water.
Ms Jayalalithaa had also instructed authorities to ensure that a small table and a bench is placed in all the newly inaugurated facility.
The milk banks were inaugurated in seven state- run hospitals at Chennai (Government Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Egmore), Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Coimbatore, Theni, Salem and Thanjavur. Each bank has a capacity to store milk donated by mothers for about three months and are equipped with high-end freezer equipment worth Rs 10 lakh, the release added.
“Chennai has one of the lowest infant mortality rates and through this initiative malnutrition can be addressed and the infant mortality rate can be brought down further,” said a Chennai corporation medical officer.
According to union government statistics taken in 2012, Delhi holds the highest number of infant deaths among metros leaving Chennai with the lowest infant mortality deaths. Chennai now records the lowest IMR of 15 per 1,000 live births.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
Next Story
