Mumbai: Over the past five years, more than 43,000 women have donated breast milk to Sion Hospital, which is home to Asia's first breast milk bank, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The donations from 43,412 lactating mothers have benefited 10,523 newborns, according to the data released by the civic body during the National Breastfeeding Month in August.
Breast milk donations play a crucial role in bringing down mortality rates among low-weight premature and at-risk newborns. Talking to PTI, Dr Mohan Joshi, dean of Sion Hospital, said, "The milk bank was started in 1989 by Armida Fernandes, and it received donations of Rs 1 lakh from Tata Group's Indian Hotels Company Limited when Ajit Kerkar was its chairman. It's the first breastmilk bank in Asia."
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He said mother's milk is special because it contains haemoglobin and vital vitamins essential for a newborn's growth and development.
Acording to the PTI report, the donations at the breastmilk bank have supported infants with low birth weight and insufficient growth and babies of women who are unable to breastfeed due to postnatal complications.
The hospital is now helping medical establishments in western India to set up similar milk banks.
Dr Swati Manerkar, head of the neonatology department, said, "The objective of the milk bank is to ensure that no infant dies due to scarcity of breastmilk. We take all safety precautions while procuring milk from donors. We approach lactating mothers who can give their milk once they have fed their babies", news agency PTI reported.
The milk is then processed in the pasteurisation area, and once cleared, it is stored at -40 degrees Celsius, she said.
Dr Manerkar said milk is given when prescribed by doctors.
"The milk bank helps around 2,000 to 2,500 newborns each year, she said, adds PTI.
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