Babies born in State hosp to get kits

Babies born in State hosp to get kits

Mumbai: All babies born at government hospitals will now get their first gift, a baby care kit.

The State Cabinet on Tuesday approved the proposal to provide baby care kit to the babies born in government hospitals. 

“The government decided to implement the scheme in the State to avoid and reduce the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in the State. The kit, containing utilities, includes a pair of warm blankets, a sleeping pouch, mosquito nets and antiseptic lotions that would be given to the mothers,” said an official.

The kit will be provided at government hospitals, government maternity homes and primary health centres where the baby is born. “The idea of providing a baby care kit is to reduce the Infant Mortality Rates (IMR). One of the main causes behind the high IMR rates is the pneumonia infections in underweight babies. The warm blankets would keep the baby safe from such infections,” the officer said.

While the idea of a baby box, a cardboard box containing a stash of supplies for babies including bodysuits, nappies, sleeping nappers, toys and baby care products, had originated in Finland in 1930s, developing countries in Asia and Africa have innovated to suit the local needs. Over the years, Finnish babies have had their first sleep in the warmth of the box. In some African countries, the box has been replaced with a plastic bath tub, and in AP, the Health Department provides a sleeping pouch.

In the State, about 20 lakh babies are born every year, out of which eight lakh mothers deliver the baby in urban areas and twelve lakh babies are born in rural areas. More than ten lakh mothers deliver in government hospitals or in primary health centres, where first time deliveries are about four lakh. 
The expected mother has to register her name with a government hospital for delivery of the baby and then inform the Anganwadi helper in the ninth month of her pregnancy. The Anganwadi helper will provide the baby kit to the mother. 

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