NEWS –  Karnataka has announced plans to establish human milk banks in all district hospitals, aiming to combat infant malnutrition and support preterm and underweight babies whose mothers are unable to breastfeed.

HIGHLIGHTS

Current Status

• 12 human milk banks operational
• 8 more being set up under the National Health Mission
• Plan to expand to every district hospital
• Already benefited ~3,800 infants in the last eight months

What is a Human Milk Bank?

A facility that:

• Collects donated breast milk from voluntary lactating mothers
• Screens, pasteurises and stores it safely
• Provides milk to infants in need

How Milk is Collected & Processed

1. Counselling postpartum mothers about donation
2. Milk extraction using electric breast pump
3. Storage at –22°C
4. Pooling & sample testing
5. Pasteurisation: 30 mins at 62.5°C
6. Retesting & storage (usable up to 6 months)

Why Breast Milk Banks Matter

• Provides essential nutrition for:
  • Preterm babies
  • Underweight infants
  • Babies whose mothers:
    • Have low milk supply
    • Are ill / undergoing treatment
    • Are absent or deceased
• Helps prevent:
  • Malnutrition
  • Infections
  • Gastrointestinal disorders
• Supports infant survival and developmental outcomes

Challenges

• Low awareness in rural areas
• Cultural hesitation in donating milk
• Need for trained healthcare personnel
• Ensuring screening & safety standards

Significance

• Major intervention under public health framework
• Promotes child survival and nutrition
• Aligns with:
  • SDG 2 – Zero Hunger
  • SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being
  • National Nutrition Mission objectives