Human milk bank inaugurated at Nashik Civil hospital

Nashik: A new Human milk bank has been inaugurated on The Nashik Civil Hospital campus due to the shortage and slow operation of milk banks in the city. The hospital joined hands with a non-governmental organization (NGO) to move forward with the initiative. 

Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) Vice-chancellor, Lt General Dr Madhuri Kanitkar came to the inauguration ceremony as a guest. While speaking on the occasion, she said "The bank was a much-needed initiative for the survival of babies that were admitted in hospitals."

While other human milk bank charges for milk, this hospital will provide the milk free of cost. The milk will be provided to feed the babies who will get admitted to the hospital. The hospital also encouraged mothers to donate breast milk in order to save a child's life.

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Dr Kanitkar told TOI, "While the doctors and nursing staff of the civil hospital will contribute by way of raising awareness among the mothers to donate their milk and the NGO will raise infrastructure to preserve it, the mothers from the society need to come forth and contribute."

After a thorough examination and approval by a doctor, a healthy woman who tests negative for HIV and VDRL is not on any medications, and has no indications of Hepatitis can donate breast milk. The demand for breast milk has been increasing rapidly in the country. As a result, the government are taking steps by introducing more milk bank to the people.

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Over 7,000 babies get delivered from the hospital including complicated delivery cases. The bank aims to help those babies as well as those who do not get milk from their own mothers due to a lack of nutrition in their bodies. Babies without parents will also be able to get the advantage of the facilities.

A great initiative was taken by the hospital, now a baby admitted to the hospital will get proper health nutrition saving atleast a life each day.