Mangaluru: The Rotary Amruth – Human Milk Bank, set up in March 2022 at Government Lady Goschen Hospital, has become a beacon of hope for premature infants in need of nourishment. With funding of Rs 35 lakh from the Rotary Club of Mangalore, the initiative has saved countless newborn lives in just three years.
Since its inception, over 8,265 mothers have donated 508 litres of breast milk. This donor milk has benefited 366 babies in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), many of whom were born too early for their mothers to produce sufficient milk.
Dr Lakshmi Kamat, neonatologist, highlighted that breast milk plays a critical role in the development of underdeveloped organs in preterm babies. “Human milk protects against life-threatening conditions like NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis), ROP (retinopathy of prematurity), and BPD (bronchopulmonary dysplasia),” she said, adding that the milk bank has helped reduce such risks significantly.
Notably, a baby born at just 27 weeks, weighing 718 grams, survived solely on donor milk—a testament to the milk bank’s lifesaving impact.
Donations often come from mothers with surplus milk. After counselling and health checks for infections like HIV, HBsAg, VDRL, and HCV, only eligible mothers are approved. According to Bhavya, the coordinator, milk is stored at -20°C, pasteurized, lab-tested, and then given to NICU infants upon clearance.
The presence of colostrum, the thick yellow milk produced in the first few days after birth, further boosts immunity. It’s often referred to as “nature’s first vaccine.”
The initiative not only offers a second chance at life for fragile infants but also empowers donating mothers with a profound sense of purpose.