First mother's milk store opened at govt hospital in Ajmer to help new-borns in ICU

First mother's milk store and distribution centre opened at government Jannana hospital in Ajmer and mother's milk was administered to new-born babies in ICU unit. Such a service will help babies who are born underweight with their mothers too weak to feed them. 

According to doctors, Ajmer has a high infant mortality rate of 16% and the mother’s milk distribution and storage centre will be able to help 40% new-borns to survive by giving them mother's milk after birth. The process of storage and distribution of mother’s milk was finished in 20 days and now mother's milk is available for distribution to health centres.

Inaugurating the distribution centre, Ajmer Development Authority (ADA) chairman Shiv Shanker Heda was quoted as saying that the chief minister Bashundhara Raja has initiated such beneficial projects for mothers and new-borns so that no child dies for lack of milk.

At the inauguration, 600 unit of milk (60ml per unit) stored in -20 degrees Celsius, and was administered to seven new-born babies fighting for mother's milk in ICU. Women from rural areas like Ajmer suffer from malnutrition and as a result are unable to feed their new-borns. 

"I ask all health centres and medical health department to identify those mothers who are weak in breastfeeding so that their children can be provided with mother's milk," said Heda.He said the project will aid mothers in rural region to restore the health of their babies after birth.

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"The mother's milk is important for new-borns as it improves immunity and help fight disease immediately after birth," said a doctor adding, the death rate among new-borns is mainly because they are unable to survive post birth due to low immunity. 

The milk was procured from nearby Bhilwara to Ajmer in special vehicles and doctors say this will help in restoring health to new-borns who become sick straight after birth. Sources said such mother’s milk store and distribution centres will be opened in other district depending on the success of the experiment. The project was launched by Devender Agarwal, consultant of state government and ADA provided Rs 2.5 lakh for set-up as well as assembly of hall in government woman hospital.

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