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Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians President Prof. Sujeewa Amarasena unveiling the plaque at the Lactation Management Centre (LMC) at the Dambulla Base Hospital
Sri Lanka’s oldest baby care brand, Pears, declared open its fifth Lactation Management Centre (LMC) at the Dambulla Base Hospital recently. The lactation centres will help raise awareness on the importance of breastfeeding and promote exclusive breastfeeding among new mothers, in line with the brand’s commitment to helping Lankan mothers raise healthy and happy babies.
Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians President Prof. Sujeewa Amarasena stated, “LMCs render a useful service to mothers who have breastfeeding problems and mothers in general who initiate this after the birth of their child. Although currently our breastfeeding rates are satisfactory, there’s room for improvement. Only 50% of mothers exclusively breastfeed their child during the first six months and only 75% during the first four months of their infant’s life.”
The Lactation Management Centres are commissioned in areas identified by the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians (SLCP) with a sizable population of mothers with doubts and problems in feeding the new born. The LMC at the Dambulla Base Hospital was opened after identifying it as a key location providing services to three provinces namely, Central, North Central and North Western, where thousands of mothers-to-be and new mothers visit on a daily basis. These centres will share knowledge and know-how with new mothers to promote correct breastfeeding, ensuring that babies get the best possible nutrition during early infancy.
In addition to visiting the centre to access useful techniques on proper breastfeeding and counselling and treatment for feeding problems the mothers can also seek advice from the comfort of their homes through a dedicated phone line set up to the centre. This in turn will help promote a healthy and happy childhood and enhance learning and development.
Prof. Amarasena further stated, “More work needs to be done to improve this situation and we know those mothers who fail to breastfeed at the very inception, fail to initiate and sustain breastfeeding within the first week itself. LMCs are manned by trained staff that will help those mothers who have genuine problems in initiating and maintaining breastfeeding.”
Since 2002 Pears has initiated 23 such projects across the island-including the Lactation Management Centres which were opened last year in Nuwaraeliya and Akkaraipattu. The inaugural centres of this project were launched in Homagama and Karawanella. Several more LMCs are scheduled to be opened around the country under the guidance of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians by Pears.
Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians Former President Prof. Dulanie Gunasekara and Pears Senior Brand Manager Imeshika Kariyawasam opening the Lactation Management Centre (LMC) at the Dambulla Base Hospital
Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians President Prof. Sujeewa Amarasena registering the first new mother at the Lactation Management Centre (LMC) at the Dambulla Base Hospital
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Pears Assistant Brand Manager Vidhushi Rambukwella registering the first new mother at Lactation Management Centre (LMC) at the Dambulla Base Hospital
Doctors and staff distributing gifts and essential items to mothers-to-be and new mothers at the Dambulla Base Hospital
