The report also shows that Malta managed a dramatic leap forward in respect of the mortality rate of children below five years of age. Quoting from the report, Dr Deguara said that in 2002 the rate was brought down to five deaths in every 1,000 as opposed to 14 in every 1,000 of 1990.
The minister was speaking at the official inauguration of the new breastfeeding walk-in clinic in the Maternity Department at the Karin Grech Hospital. The services offered by the clinic are aimed at women who are seeking help or advice regarding breastfeeding and will be open on Tuesday and Thursday from 8.30am to 1.30pm, on a first come first serve basis.
The service was introduced to promote breast-feeding because, despite the low mortality rate and general quality of medical care offered, Malta still lags behind other countries in this respect. Thus far there is no system in place compiling statistics of mothers opting for breastfeeding after they are discharged from hospital.
Mothers discharged from hospital often complained that they did not find practical help with breastfeeding and resorted to artificial milk as a solution, which is why the service was introduced. A team from the hospital reviewed the situation and noted that breastfeeding clinics had considerable success in offering mothers and babies help in many European countries. The hospital realised the extent of the demand for the clinic after a number of mothers were returning to the hospital for help, following the introduction of a lactation midwife on the postnatal ward some time ago.
The minister concluded by thanking the hospital’s staff and non-governmental organisations such as the Daniel Delicata Memorial Association – which helped decorate and furnished a designated area of the walk-in clinic – for their dedicated work.
The report also shows that Malta managed a dramatic leap forward in respect of the mortality rate of children under the age of five. Quoting from the report, Dr Deguara said that in 2002 the rate was brought down to five deaths in every 1,000 as opposed to 14 in every 1,000 in 1990.
The minister was speaking at the official inauguration of the new breast-feeding walk-in clinic in the Maternity Department at the Karin Grech Hospital. The clinic, whose services are aimed at women who are seeking help or advice regarding breast-feeding, will be open on Tuesday and Thursday from 8.30am to 1.30pm, on a first come, first served basis.
The service was introduced to promote breast-feeding because, despite the low mortality rate and general quality of medical care offered, Malta still lags behind other countries in this respect, although there is no system in place to produce statistics of mothers opting for breast-feeding after they are discharged from hospital.
Mothers discharged from hospital often complain that they did not find practical help with breast-feeding and resorted to bottle feeding as a solution.
A team from the hospital reviewed the situation and noted that breast-feeding clinics had met with considerable success in offering mothers and babies help in many European countries.It realised the extent of demand for the clinic after a number of mothers returned to the hospital for help, following the introduction of a lactation midwife on the postnatal ward some time ago.
The minister thanked the hospital’s staff and non governmental organisations such as the Daniel Delicata Memorial Association, which helped decorate and furnished a designated area of the walk-in clinic, for their dedicated work.