Mother’s Milk Bank plan to make a comeback

KIRANMAI TUTIKA | AMARAVATI

In a significant push toward improving neonatal healthcare, Andhra Pradesh is set to establish mother’s milk banks in key districts including Visakhapatnam, NTR district, and one location in the Rayalaseema region. The initiative, originally proposed in 2016 for King George Hospital, is now being revived with renewed administrative focus and budgetary planning.

Health officials indicate that the milk banks will be set up within major government hospitals that have dedicated paediatric and neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The primary objective is to reduce neonatal mortality, particularly among premature and low birth weight infants, groups that are most vulnerable in the early days of life.

Lactating mothers admitted to hospitals can voluntarily donate excess breast milk. This milk is then carefully screened and collected, pasteurised and sterilised, stored under controlled refrigeration, and supplied to infants in need under strict medical supervision.

The process follows rigorous safety protocols, ensuring that the milk remains safe, nutritious, and life-saving for newborns who cannot access their mother’s milk.

According to paediatric experts, access to donor human milk can dramatically improve survival outcomes. Dr. S. Gowri, a pediatrician, notes that recovery rates in premature babies can improve by up to 50% when breast milk is available. “Mother’s milk is not just nutrition, it is immunity, protection, and survival. Milk banks can be as critical as blood banks in emergency neonatal care,” she explained.

Despite its benefits, the concept still faces social hesitation in India. Experts stress the need for awareness campaigns to normalize donor milk usage. “Parents must see this as a medical necessity, not a cultural barrier,” health officials say.

India currently has limited milk banks, just over 40 nationwide, most of them in private hospitals. Compared to this, several developed countries have far more extensive networks. Even neighboring Telangana has more operational units than Andhra Pradesh, highlighting the urgency for expansion.

The milk banks could serve multiple districts, including Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, and East Godavari, creating a regional safety net for newborn care.