New support centre for mothers of sick newborns at AIIMS

New Delhi: Mothers whose babies are admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at AIIMS will soon receive dedicated support under a new initiative aimed at easing the emotional and practical challenges faced during critical newborn care.The programme, called Mother's Nest, was launched through a partnership between HCLFoundation, AIIMS New Delhi and non-profit organisation Doctors For You. Under the project, mothers staying with babies admitted to the NICU will receive assistance aimed at improving their well-being and helping them cope during the stressful hospital stay. Doctors say mothers of critically ill newborns often spend long hours in hospitals and face emotional, physical and logistical challenges while their babies undergo treatment.The partnership was formalised through a memorandum of understanding signed at AIIMS on Friday. The agreement was signed by AIIMS director Prof M Srinivas, Dr Nidhi Pundhir, senior vice-president, global CSR at HCLTech and director of HCLFoundation, and Dr Rajat Jain, president of Doctors For You.Senior doctors and administrators from AIIMS, including the medical superintendent and faculty from paediatrics, obstetrics and paediatric surgery departments, were present at the event.Doctors said the initiative is expected to strengthen support systems for mothers whose newborns are undergoing intensive care treatment. Such programmes can help improve maternal wellbeing and indirectly support better care for newborns.The organisations involved said the collaboration also highlights how corporate social responsibility initiatives can complement public healthcare services and improve patient support systems in large tertiary care hospitals.Officials said the partners will continue exploring similar initiatives aimed at improving maternal and newborn care, particularly for families who travel long distances to seek treatment at AIIMS.