JALANDHAR: Aimed to reduce the Infant mortality rate by sensitizing the mothers and offering the best care to the newborn, the health teams have been creating awareness among the mothers by visiting their doorsteps to keep the babies safe and healthy.
The health department had initiated this drive under National Newborn Week to promote healthy newborn care practices by visiting their homes.
Divulging the details, The Deputy Commissioner Mr Varinder Kumar Sharma said that the neonatal period (the first 28 days of life) is the crucial period for the newborn as this period demands the highest care than any other period during the childhood. He said that the first month of life is also a foundational period for lifelong health and growth.
He said that this week is being celebrated every year to create community awareness for healthy practices through frontline health workers accredited social health activist (ASHA) and auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM).
The Civil Surgeon Dr Gurinder Kaur Chawla said that the frontline health workers were promoting early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for six months, proper immunization, regular check on babies' weight and growth and others. Further after six months, babies should be introduced to semi-solid, soft food (complementary feeding) but breastfeeding should continue for up to two years and beyond because it is an important source of nutrition, energy, and protection from illness.
Apart from, the health teams are also apprising the families to avoid kissing the newborn, taking the newborn in crowded places, change the clothes on time, touching the newborn only after hand washing, keep the surroundings clean etc, she added.
She said that the health teams have also been sensitizing the mothers about danger signs in newborns like when a newborn does not take feed, excess sleepiness, rashes, fever, difficulty in breathing so that newborns can be immediately taken for the treatment.
Dr Chawla said that the detailed report will be sent to the higher authorities after the end of the week.