In April 2022, we marked the second anniversary of the unique Tipat Halav service at the maternity departments at Soroka, the result of a collaboration between the Ministry of Health, Clalit Southern District, and Soroka University Medical Center. Tipat Halav (literally "drop of milk") centers provide family health services in the community to young families from pregnancy through infancy and early childhood. The service is currently provided at two departments at Soroka and will be expanded to additional ones.
Through this initiative, Tipat Halav nurses meet mothers who are still hospitalized following birth, provide information and initial training on continued care and follow-up of newborns, and coordinate their first visits to Tipat Halav centers in the community. In this way, mothers are discharged with relevant information on monitoring their babies' development, vaccinations, and infant care.
Eden Levi, from Beer-Sheva, who gave birth to her second daughter and was hospitalized in Maternity Department C, remarked, "The Tipat Halav nurse came to my room with all the equipment and information, and already arranged an appointment for the baby to be weighed and monitored. It's great to have such a convenient and accessible service that saves me time."
Masho Salomon, head nurse of Maternity Department B: "Our joint work with the Tipat Halav nurses is bringing about a significant change that promotes the health of the mothers and babies and the health of the community in general. The mothers confirm that the service is convenient and efficient and note that it makes it easier for them after discharge from the hospital."
Sagit Paz-Tal, coordinator of the mother and child field of the Health Bureau of the Southern District: "We are happy for the opportunity to make our service accessible to the mothers at Soroka and for the positive response and good reactions. This is an important project that is successful thanks to the cooperation with the nurses in the departments and the hospital management."
