Parenting guide on maternal and child health fills information gap in Georgia

GEORGIA - ‘Newborns don’t come with manuals’ is a saying often spouted in jest, but lack of information on maternal and child health care can seriously impact mothers and their newborns and at worst can be life-threatening. In Georgia, a handbook called ‘Parents book’ has been designed and now launched by World Vision Georgia to fill this gap and is already receiving praise from parents and health professionals alike. “Parents book”, written by a group of paediatricians is a practical guide to parenting that gives advice on health care, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, day-to-day baby care, including feeding and washing and child development. “This kind of book has never been published before; there are certain guidelines available for doctors but not for the general population. The book can give very valuable information to mothers and even to doctors”, said Fridon Todua, Academician of Academy of Medical Sciences of Georgia, who attended the presentation of the book for health professionals.

I am using this book on a daily basis and though I am an inexperienced mother I can manage to raise my child independently, and I am not afraid that I am doing anything in a wrong way

A survey conducted by World Vision’s health programme revealed a serious lack of information about maternal and child health. “We have revealed lack of information even in doctors not to mention the local population around the benefits of breastfeeding, maternal, infant health and nutrition. So the need for such a textbook was very evident for us”, said David Raminashvili, World Vision’s Maternal and Child Health/Jump Start Initiative project coordinator. World Vision staff have already distributed the book in19 villages, situated in World Vision ‘Area Development Programmes’, through parents clubs previously established by World Vision’s health team. These clubs are part of an integral approach to home and community messaging and counselling on maternal, newborn, infant, child and adolescent health and nutrition. Twenty-four-year-old Tinatin Lomidze from Shakriani village who has a one-year-old child became a member of the Parents Club established by World Vision’s Maternal Child Health and Nutrition project when she was pregnant. “I am very grateful for all the information these people gave to me. I am using this book on a daily basis and though I am an inexperienced mother I can manage to raise my child independently, and I am not afraid that I am doing anything in a wrong way, as I am following this book.” said Tinatin, who now shares all of her new knowledge and skills with other mothers in her village.