Radiy Khabirov instructed to study issue of creating infant-feeding centers in Bashkiria

UFA, 25 January 2019. /Bashinform News Agency, Galina Bakhshieva/ translated by Tatiana Aksyutina/.

The Ufa experience of operating infant-feeding centers is planned to be replicated in other cities of Bashkiria. Such a decision was made during the "Health Care Hour" session at the republican Government.

As the regional Interim Health Minister Maxim Zabelin said at the meeting, the existing network of infant-feeding centers was completely eliminated in Bashkiria. The only exception was Ufa, where the center, created at the Dietetic and Baby Food Center, has been successfully operating for several years.

According to the chief of staff of the Ufa administration, Alfira Bakieva, infant dairy products are in great demand. In general, over the year, 1,400 low-income families received free food for children under one and a half years. The expenses of the city budget for the maintenance of the infant-feeding centers amounted to 19 million rubles.

In addition to providing low-income families, dairy products are available in the market. This is about 5 thousand children not entitled to benefits. The turnover of the Center for Dietary and Baby Food from the sale of dairy products amounted to 51 million rubles last year, said Guzel Asylova, chairman of the Bashkortostan State Trade Committee, at the Health Care Hour.

In other cities and regions of the republic, there are no infant-feeding centers at the moment. Poor families receive only dry milk mixes and cereals.

In the near future, it is planned to create an infant-feeding center in Sterlitamak. Technically, the production facilities are ready there. In the future, the launching of such centers in the cities of Oktyabrsky, Neftekamsk, and Sibay are supposed.

Besides, the question of baby food monetization involves a lot of discussions. According to the Acting Head of the Republic Radiy Khabirov, it is important to gain a clear picture of what parents want: baby food in kind or its equivalent in monetary terms.

Radiy Khabirov instructed to study this issue until April and then submit it to the next Government meeting.