Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 15, 2009 News
By Sharmain Cornette
As part of the continued observance of National Breast Feeding Week, an informative exhibition was held yesterday just outside the Outpatients Department of the West Demerara Regional Hospital.
The one-day event was characterised by a display of varying literature, pictures and games which served to present ample reason why the ‘breast is best’, according to Jean Bhagmania, Vice Chairman of the Region Three Breastfeeding Committee.
And the members of the committee had their work cut out for them, as they braved the heat of the day to explain to mothers as well as others visiting the hospital, some of the many benefits that can be derived from breastfeeding.
Chairman of the Committee, Sister Savitri Chandrabose, said that the hospital has been making grounds in its unyielding mission to ensure that mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months of their lives. She disclosed that right at the West Demerara hospital, measures have been put in place, including the availability of a counsellor, to enlighten mothers about the fact that breast milk is crucial to their children’s proper development.
Counsellor, Ms Ranie Ramkissoon, during an earlier interview with this newspaper had disclosed that a session is never completed unless she is able to exhort the importance of breastfeeding as well as the need for mothers to be supported by family members.
She disclosed that once mothers are in the company of their husbands or any other member of their family they too are exposed to the facts about breast milk, which does not only have the potential of fully nourishing a baby for the first six months of his or her life, but also can help to boost their intelligence.
Ramkissoon said that as soon as an expectant woman starts to visit the clinic at the West Demerara Hospital she can be sure to have an encounter with her. These encounters she explained are done both individually and in groups.
But according to the counsellor, although the need to breastfeed babies is continually highlighted, there is still the challenge of dealing with some mothers and even their relatives who cannot comprehend the fact that breast is best and it can work effectively alone.
There is also the incidence of mothers with inverted nipples, who according to Ramkissoon are not always willing to have that problem resolved in order to breast feed. However, with the requisite literature, Ramkissoon claims that she has been able to get through to her clients and believes that the intended objective is usually achieved.
Through the exhibition, though, Sister Chandrabose is confident that the work done by the counsellor will be boosted as it is anticipated that support from other family members will become even stronger.
“We will not talk to mothers about breastfeeding, it is everybody’s business. Some mothers tend to sway from the advice of the counsellor, but once a mother is breastfeeding her baby, that baby is safe, protected and will get all of the necessary nutrients, even water,” said Sister Chandrabose. But in order to further enhance the practice of breastfeeding, mothers who are on staff at the hospital are encouraged to breast feed their babies so that mothers visiting the hospital would be inspired, she added.
Regarding the work of the Breastfeeding Committee as extraordinary, Regional Health Officer, Dr Millicent Benjamin, said yesterday that she was proud of the commitment that has been portrayed on an annual basis.
“I am proud about the efforts that are being made by the committee as well as the staff, and I am urging them to continue to support each other so that we can have these successes.”
The week of activities will continue today with the members of the committee visiting health centres on the West Bank and West Coast of Demerara. The following day a workshop will be held in order to further raise breastfeeding awareness among staffers at the hospital.
The annual breastfeeding walk is slated for Thursday and will commence at the West Demerara Secondary School and end at the hospital where a rally will be engaged. Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, has been scheduled to deliver the feature address at the rally. Similar activities are also slated to be undertaken at health facilities in Wakenaam and Leguan throughout this week.
Breastfeeding week (Sunday 13 – 20) commenced on Sunday and is being observed under the theme ‘Breastfeeding: a vital emergency response. Are you ready?
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