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Cap: Nurse giving bananas at Modern Govt. Maternity Hospital, Hyderabad.

Helping Hand's Healthy food reduces anemia in expecting mothers

 DTMT Network
Healthy food items being provided free of cost to expectant mothers by the Helping Hand Foundation NGO, in collaboration with the Modern Government Maternity Hospital, Petlaburj, Hyderabad, has brought down incidence of anemia among these patients.

Food items including bananas, dates and peanut-chiki have been regularly distributed by counselors of the NGO under “Healthy Eating During Pregnancy” program. The food items are provided to women when they visit the hospital for antenatal check up.   

Dr M Nagamani, Superintendent, Modern Government Maternity Hospital, said that the incidence of anemia has come down considerably after the launch of this program at the hospital last year.

The women are educated by the volunteers about how bananas are a rich source of folic acid, potassium and antioxidants which are vital for formation of bones. The volunteers further explain how dates are rich in iron and dietary fiber and how these elements can prevent potential birth defects by preventing anemia in women.

Counseling is changing the thinking of the women, most of whom come from weaker economic background. Counseling them regularly encourages them to consciously eat healthy when they go back home.

Doctors associated with the program said that good nutrition during antenatal period is critical for expecting mothers and can potentially reduce the risk of congenital diseases in newborns and also reduce the nutritional deficiencies in them.  

Mr. Mujtaba Hasan Askari of Helping Hand Foundation, said that it is good that a top maternity hospital is running this program for expectant mothers who mostly come from poor background. Such services are not provided in private health facilities where maternity services are available at high cost.


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