Many newborns do not receive their mother’s milk at birth. To help such infants, KEM Hospital had established a milk bank. As the hospital marks its centenary year, the storage capacity of this milk bank has been increased. With this enhancement, the bank can now store 500 to 600 litters of milk at a time, doubling its previous capacity. Additionally, milk donations from external donor mothers will also be accepted. This expansion has enabled the hospital to provide milk to 60-70 infants daily.
State-of-the-Art Facilities with CSR Support
Dr. Sangeeta Rawat, Dean of KEM Hospital, stated that the human milk bank has undergone a makeover. With the support of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds, the bank has been equipped with advanced machinery. Dr. Anita Hari Balakrishnan, head of the NICU and milk bank, emphasized the importance of feeding newborns colostrum, the thick yellow milk produced immediately after birth.
However, some mothers face medical issues or are unable to produce milk, leaving their babies deprived of essential nutrients. The hospital’s mother’s milk bank serves as a boon for such infants.
According to Dr. Anita, the milk bank also provides milk to premature babies and infants with low birth weight, ensuring proper nutrition for their growth and development.
Serving Thousands of Infants Since 2005
Dr. Anita shared that the KEM Hospital Milk Bank was established in October 2005. Initially, it operated in a 100-150 square-foot area, but after renovations, it has now expanded to 200 square feet. With this expansion, the bank has acquired automated machines for storage and pasteurization.
Every year, the milk bank provides milk to around 2,000 infants. Over the past two decades, approximately 40,000 babies have benefitted from this facility.
