Ernakulam General Hospital to launch mobile breast milk collection unit

Ernakulam: Ernakulam General Hospital is set to introduce a mobile milk collection unit to collect breast milk from lactating donor mothers outside the hospital, to expand its donor network and strengthen the hospital’s human milk bank. 

The initiative is being jointly undertaken by the district administration and the Health Department. The proposed mobile unit will enable willing donor mothers to provide breast milk from locations convenient to them, similar to the functioning of a mobile blood collection unit.  

District Collector G. Priyanka said the initiative is intended to make milk donation more accessible to lactating mothers and encourage more women to join the donor network. The collected milk will be handled using sterile procedures to ensure its safe collection and storage.

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According to Ernakulam General Hospital Superintendent R. Prebhudas, the mobile unit will be equipped with the necessary facilities for collecting and safely storing breast milk. The unit will have four staff members, including a lactation counsellor. The hospital is also exploring Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding to support the project, reports The Hindu.

At present, the human milk bank at Ernakulam General Hospital collects breast milk mainly from lactating mothers within the hospital. The facility currently meets the requirements of newborns receiving care at the hospital and also receives requests from private individuals and other hospitals.

Hospital Deputy Superintendent Dr. Cency B said breast milk is provided free of cost when requests are received from outside the hospital. Although human milk can be stored at the facility for up to six months, the available stock is generally utilised within two weeks.

Hospital authorities said the proposed mobile collection unit is expected to increase the availability of donated breast milk by bringing more lactating mothers into the collection network.

A district Health officer also noted that milk supplied by the hospital to meet requirements outside the facility is provided free of cost, but replacement donations are uncommon. The department has encouraged recipients to replace the donated milk at least once when the mother has an excess supply.

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