In its efforts to reduce the infant mortality rate (IMR), neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and malnutrition in the state, the government of Rajasthan has included the management of breast milk in the breastfeeding course. Now, nursing students in Rajasthan will undergo compulsory breast milk management training for 72 hours, as it has been included in their practical curriculum.

“Student nurses deployed in the labor room, outpatient department (OPD), inpatient department (IPD) and immunization will assist and educate mothers on appropriate breastfeeding practices,” said Devendra Agarwal, State Health Department Advisor for the Aanchal Mothers’ Milk Bank Project. . “These nursing students will be trained in breast milk bank, breast milk clinic and breastfeeding management. This will help reduce AMT and other existing child-related problems, ”he added.

By including the General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) practical course at government nursing schools, nursing students will be required to complete 72-hour training in the second and final year during the course lasting 3.5 years.

The state has 15 government GNM schools and breast milk management was included last month. Nursing students will receive three-day lactation management training and breastfeeding advice and training for mothers. Students will be mentored in a breastfeeding clinic and for six days in a breast milk bank, where nursing students will be trained to rinse milk and store it for newborns who may need breast milk.

“With nursing students trained in breast milk management, more manpower will be available, which will help stop the infant mortality rate and tackle the problem of malnutrition,” Agrawal said.

Currently, Rajasthan has 19 breast milk banks in 17 district hospitals including Beawar (Ajmer) Alwar, Banswara, Baran, Barmer, Bhilwara, Bharatpur, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Churu, Dholpur, Jalore, Karauli, Rajsamand, Sawai Madhopur , Sirohi and Tonk, at Rabindra Nath Tagore Medical College in Udaipur, and Sawai Man Singh Medical College in Jaipur run by the Norwegian government.

Practical test

By including the Practical General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) course in government nursing schools, nursing students enrolled in the institutes will be required to complete 72-hour training in the second and final year during the course. ” a term of 3.5 years.