SRINAGAR, MAY 22: Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services & Sports, Mr. Taj Mohi ud Din inaugurated a Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre(NRC) at G. B. Pant Hospital today. The centre has been established under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
Addressing a gathering of doctors, paramedics and other staff members of the hospital on the occasion, the Minister underscored the importance of education among masses about nutritional needs of new born babies. He said breast feeding should be encouraged and it should be made the only source of feed to babies up to six months. He suggested setting up of these NR centres at all primary health institutions, sub district hospitals and District Hospitals.
Mr. Taj highlighted the role of primary health institutions and field workers like ASHA and Anganwari workers in spreading the message about nutritional requirements of new born babies. He said tertiary care hospitals can act as guiding hospitals for popularizing this system of care of babies. He appreciated the management and staff of G B Pant Hospital for working hard in getting the institution a turnaround and improving the quality of services.
Commissioner-Secretary, Health & Medical Education, Mr. Shaleen Kabra stressed the need on integrative approach by all wings and concerned agencies to reach out to lactating mothers and new born babies.
Mission Director, NRHM, Dr. Yashpaul Sharma, in his address underlined the importance of the centre and said that the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karikram run at the Hospital under NRHM has achieved cent per cent progress and Rs. 1.25 crore were spent on the scheme last year.
Principal, GMC, Srinagar, Dr. Rafiq Pampori in his address said that more steps would be taken to equip the hospital with super specialized faculty and equipment.
Medical Superintendent, G B Pant Hospital, Dr. Muneer Masoodi gave a resume of activities undertaken by the hospital administration during last year. He said 2.44 lac patients were provided OPD facilities at the hospital during last year and 22 thousand patients were admitted. He said three ventilators costing Rs. 45 lacs were procured by the hospital and also six bubble CPAP ventilator systems, 13 split ACs, 18 radiant warmers, 25 semi-fowler beds were put in place. He said that orders for supply of Rs. 30 lac automatic microbiological culture and drug sensitivity system had been placed and the supply is expected shortly.
Earlier, in his power point presentation, Head, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Kaisar Ahmad said that two lac babies are born annually in J&K out of which 9000 die in the first year while as 70, 000 upto an age of three years remain under nourished. He said newborn babies should be administered breast feed within first hour of birth and for first six month it should be the only source of nutrition.
He said a large number of deaths among new born occur due to preventable diseases like diahorria, pneumonia and malnutrition which can be prevented to a great extent by oral rehydration and breast feeding. He said 18 studies conducted worldwide have shown that chances of diahorria among the children of 0-5 months increase by 165 % in the absence of breast feed.
Later, the Minister visited CD Hospital, at Drugjan and interacted with faculty and staff. He inaugurated an upgraded Polysonography lab at the Hospital popularly called Sleep lab and is used in the treatment of patients with snarling difficulty.
CD Hospital, Drugjan, it may be mentioned, is one of the oldest hospitals of the Valley built by British as a replica of Birmingham Hospital in England during 19th century.
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