UNICEF, IMA Kerala to focus on Maternal Child Health

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A three year programme in the area of Maternal, Child health promotion is being taken up by the Unicef and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Kerela Chapter. It is being done to promote safe and healthy practices.The programme will focus on hand hygiene, immunisation and sensitising mothers' on safe practices and breastfeeding. As observed, breast feeding stops after 6 months. The IMA along with Unicef has decided to undertake an intensive year long breast feeding campaign among mothers.

The IMA state president, Dr A V Jayakrishnan says, ‘the initiative will be launched either this month or in the first week of July.’ As part of the drive, the doctors and paramedical staff in all government and private hospitals, PHCs and CHCs would be trained to make mothers aware of the advantages of starting to breastfeed from day one, he adds. ‘’We would also campaign against baby foods and encourage breastfeeding,’’ Jayakrishnan reiterates.

The IMA president emphasising on the requirement of feeding rooms for mothers' intends talking to the government regarding making provisions for the same; be they at airports, railway stations or bus stands, reports The New Indian Express.

The three year long awareness programme is also meant to popularise breast milk banks at places like IT parks. ‘’Though breast milk banks are not very popular in the country, there is a need for such banks because of the work culture,’’ he says.

Under the good practices programme, the state intends to train teachers, students and the PTA. . ‘’Apart from this, we are also focusing on immunisation and anaemia,’’ adds Jayakrishnan.

Further, under the good practices programme, the IMA plans to launch a prescription campaign. The doctors will play a major role in it, for they besides giving medicinal prescriptions, will also promote good practices through it.

‘’The doctors will also stamp a public health message in the prescription. The IMA will provide seals to the doctors,’’ the state president adds.