Breast milk bank ‘Amruthadhare’, a boon for infants deprived of it

Mother's breast milk, more valuable and nutritious than nectar, supplies essential nutrients crucial for a baby's growth.

Unfortunately, numerous children in the state are being deprived of this vital resource, resulting in stunted growth. However, the Vanivilasa Hospital's breast milk bank, known as "Amruthadhare – a Comprehensive Lactation Management Centre," has emerged as a blessing for these underprivileged children.

Initiated last year, this breast milk bank at Vanivilasa Hospital specifically caters to economically disadvantaged children who lack access to breast milk.

Initially, there was hesitancy among mothers to donate due to insufficient information. Nevertheless, increased awareness about the significance of breast milk donation has led to a rise in the number of donors. Through this bank, the precious breast milk from mothers has been provided to two thousand infants.

A survey reveals that 46% of babies under six months are not receiving adequate breastfeeding. In March 2022, the mothers’ breast milk bank was established at a cost of ₹1 crore in Vanivilasa Hospital, with the goal of ensuring breast milk access for all children.

Hospital doctors examine newborns and recommend the breast milk bank for supplementation, resulting in an average daily provision of one and a half litres of breast milk.

The breast milk bank has collected a total of 289.93 litres, with 270.09 litres sourced from donors within the hospital and 19.84 litres from external donors.

Among the hospital's mothers, 1,307 have donated breast milk, along with ten mothers from outside the hospital. The bank supplies breast milk to babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, with rigorous testing conducted to ensure its quality, sourced only from healthy mothers. External donors receive guidance through video calls, enabling them to contribute to the hospital's breast milk bank.

The collected milk undergoes pasteurization, packaging, and preservation, maintaining its integrity for up to six months. Remarkably, unlike private breast milk banks where 150 ml may cost ₹6500 to ₹8000, Vanivilasa Hospital provides breast milk free of charge to needy infants.

In summary, the Vanivilasa Hospital's breast milk bank in Bengaluru has garnered significant attention, proving to be a lifeline for over two thousand babies. Encouraging more mothers to step forward and donate will ensure that every child deprived of breast milk can benefit from this precious resource.