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The Ospital ng Muntinlupa becomes a beneficiary of SM Foundation,
Inc.’s Health and Medical programs when its Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit, Breastfeeding Unit and Pediatric Ward is officially
adopted by SM Foundation, Inc. as one of its Felicidad Sy Wellness
Center for Children and Breastfeeding Unit. The blessing and
inauguration ceremonies took place recently with Mrs. Felicidad Sy,
matriarch of the SM Group of Companies, former senator Juan Flavier
and Mayor Aldrin San Pedro of Muntinlupa with the city’s
councilors as Guests of Honor. Also present at the inauguration are
Mesdames Connie Angeles and Linda Atayde, SM Foundation, Inc.
Executive Directors and Ospital ng Muntinlupa staff led by its
Medical Director Dr. Luisito Ruiz; Chief of Clinics Dr. Zenaida
Buendia and Dr. Marian Colasito of the Pediatrics Department.
The inclusion of a Breastfeeding Unit as part of
the Felicidad Sy Wellness Center for Children is in response to the
Mother and Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative that aims to protect,
promote and support breastfeeding and rooming-in practices. The
breastfeeding program is geared to realize optimal maternal and
child health care especially during the first four to six months
after birth—breastmilk undoubtedly being the best milk for babies.
The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a
unit of a hospital specializing in the care of ill or premature born
babies. NICUs provide better temperature support, isolation from
infection risk, specialized feeding and access to specialized
medical equipment. Incubators are provided for infants and
respiratory support is given to those infants who have low birth
weight.
Statistics show that infant mortality rate was
35 per 1000 live births while neonatal death rate was 18 deaths per
1000 live births. Among the leading causes of infant deaths are
bacterial sepsis of the newborn, respiratory distress of new born
and pneumonia. Thus, the need for neonatal intensive care unit to
care for infants who are critically ill.
The establishment of Felicidad Sy Wellness
Center as one of the projects of the Foundation involves the
adoption and renovation of a hospital ward and providing it with
medical equipment and furniture. According to Connie Angeles, SM
Foundation, Inc, executive director for health and medical programs,
the project aims to ease the burden of both patients and hospital
staff by creating a child-friendly and therapeutic environment.
The SM Foundation has to date 37 wellness
centers. Besides the SM Felicidad Sy Wellness Center for Children
and Breastfeeding Unit, SMFI also creates SM Wellness Center for the
Elderly and SM Hospice Care Unit.
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