Dear Ruth,
Thank you for your comments. The challenges are indeed great, and those
actually dealing with the babies such as you or those who have had
experience, frequently realise this problem. However, people who are in the
decision making groups who are not dealing with babies are more difficult
to convince.
For many years, some of the authors and myself have tried to raise this
issue at many meetings without much success. Hence, we decided to write this
view point so that it receives wider attention. A peer-reviewed publication
has, hopefully, some strength.
Advocacy needs to target policy makers. As we noted in the article, it will
require some additional staff and some resources; but nowhere near what is
required in level II or III neonatal units.
Let us continue our efforts.
Indira
CHIFA Profile :
Indira Narayanan is currently Adjunct Professor, Pediatrics/Neonatology at the Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC, USA and Independent Consultant, Global Maternal and Newborn Health. Professional interests: Maternal and Newborn Health, research, improving newborn care with emphasis on compassionate/respectful quality of care, health policies, program implementation, capacity building, social and behavior change communication. Her research includes the seminal randomized controlled studies on proving for the first time in world literature the clinical implications of the anti-infective properties of raw and heated human milk in neonatal units carried out during her work of 20 years in India. Email :inarayanan6 ATgmail.com