Great News from Ohio!!

Today, 4 of us testified at the MCH Title V Block Grant Hearings in Columbus.
 We had 5 mintues each to do our testimony and, if I do say so myself, we
were terrific!  For the first time, the ODH staff that listened to the
testimony actually acted interested, took notes and did not act defensive.
 We all sat around for about 1 hour after the testimony finished and
informally discussed the needs of mothers and babies.  One of the
pediatricians there was very interested in our call for statistics collection
on mode of infant feeding in all instances of mortality and morbidity
requiring hospitalization up to 24 months.  When I asked them how they had
ranked the objectives (you had to see the block grant proposal to believe
it--the numbers were not in any order!), I was told that they had not done it
yet and would be interested for me to rank them and send in my
recommendations (knock me over with a feather).  They also asked us to come
up with suggested activities!  We have been testifying for 4 years now and
this is the best one ever!  Linda Smith showed some information that she
picked up in Toronto last week.  It is a breastfeeding media kit cosponsored
by the Canadian Government.  The health department representative actually
got up out of her seat to come over to Linda to obtain information on how to
get a copy.  (As soon as I get that information I will put it on the
LactNet).

Well, I need to go soak my head in some hot water so that I can get it
through my shirt tomorrow!!

:-)))  (gi-normous grin)    Martha Grodrian Brower RD LD IBCLC
                                    Empress of exuberant testimony