NGO urges Covid-confirmed mothers to breastfeed their newborns  

Mora Thavmata association, citing the World Health Organisation, said that Covid-19 confirmed mothers should breastfeed and have skin-to-skin contact with their newborn babies.

In a post on their social media, the non-governmental organisation reminded women that might be close contacts or confirmed coronavirus cases that are still encouraged to “share a room with their newborn from birth, breastfeed and hold their babies skin-to-skin”.

“Close contact and early, exclusive breastfeeding helps a baby to thrive,” the post by the World Health Organisation shared by the charity reads.

However, women “should be supported to practice appropriate infection prevention and control to reduce risks”.

Founded six years ago, Mora Thavmata is dedicated to the upgrading of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (MENN) at the Makarios hospital to a European level based on international standards.

Earlier this year, Makarios hospital created a room suitable for Covid-positive mothers to give birth naturally, following a year of mandatory caesarean sections for pregnant women nationwide who tested positive for the virus.

The move came following complaints from some women who said they were not able to breastfeed their new-borns, as according to the original protocol of the state hospital.