First government-run human milk bank in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Vani Vilas women and children's hospital is going to become first government hospital to have Human Milk Bank.

Vani Vilas hospital comes under Bengaluru Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) and will soon establish the Human Milk Bank with project of Rs 1 crore and tender process has been completed now.

There is demand for the milk for Preterm babies and low weight babies. Considering this, the team decided to establish a milk bank. This bank will help Vani Vilas, Indira Gandhi Children's hospital, Gousia hospital and others.

High demand

In a month, a minimum of 150 newborn babies require additional milk. There are around 1500 babies born every month. Also, other parts of Karnataka are also referring to this hospital as they require milk.

In 2018, around 17,000 babies were born in a hospital. Out of them, 35-40% babies required additional milk. Buying necessary equipment and appointing of the concerned staff is in progress.

Everyone cannot donate milk. The quality of milk needs to be tested and then has to be pasteurized and stored under 20 degree C temperature. When feeding to baby, it has to be brought to the normal temperature, says experts.

"Milk bank is a project of approx Rs 1 crore and government has already sanctioned Rs 35 lakh for the same. We are just waiting for some more amount to buy the necessary equipments," says Dr. Geetha Shivamurthy, Medical Superintendent , Vani Vilas Hospital.

Read the story in Kannada