Sahyadri Hospitals MomStory in Pune is celebrating a major milestone – the completion of ten years of its Human Milk Bank Service. This initiative, launched by the Rotary Club Pune Pride, has been crucial in providing lifesaving human milk to pre-term infants in need. Over the past decade, the Human Milk Bank at Sahyadri Hospitals has cared for over 3,500 pre-term infants, thanks to the generous donations of lactating mothers and the dedicated medical team.
With Maharashtra accounting for 10% of the 23 million births in India annually, the need for human milk banks is evident. In urban areas like Pune, where 1-2% of newborns rely on milk banks for survival, the importance of services like the Yashoda Milk Bank Project cannot be overstated.
Operating a human milk bank comes with its challenges, as Dr. Sunil Rao, Chief Operating Officer of Sahyadri Hospitals, explains. From donor screening to pasteurization and storage, each step requires careful attention and resources. Despite these challenges, the hospital has expanded its services to other cities like Kolhapur, Satara, and Solapur, thanks to a dedicated milk van and awareness campaigns.
Dr. Pradeep Suryawanshi, Director & Head of the Department of Neonatology and Paediatrics at Sahyadri Hospitals MomStory, emphasizes the importance of mother’s milk for pre-term infants. Mother’s milk provides essential nutrients and antibodies that support growth and development, reducing the risk of infections and complications.
To ensure the highest safety standards, donors undergo comprehensive health screenings, and the donated milk undergoes pasteurization to eliminate pathogens while preserving nutrients. The milk donation process is designed to be safe and efficient, encouraging more lactating mothers to donate and support the growing demand for donor milk.
As Sahyadri Hospitals MomStory marks this milestone, they reaffirm their commitment to supporting pre-term infants and ensuring every child has the best start in life. The impact of the Human Milk Bank Service over the past decade is a testament to the power of community support and dedication to saving vulnerable newborns.
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