Human milk bank helps save 449 preterm babies in 26 months

Two years after a human milk bank was set-up as a part of the corporate social responsibility, the 'Amaara' milk bank has saved the lives of 449 babies in 26 months with over 766 litres of milk collected as donations from 130 mothers.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India has the greatest number of preterm births in the world. Of the 2 crores 60 lakh childbirths each year, about 35 lakh are preterm, of which almost three lakh die of associated complications.

"Breastmilk is even more important for premature babies and unfortunately a lot of preterm mothers do not lactate enough in the first few days after delivery. Human milk banks can help bridge this vital gap. Mother's milk can be stored for six months at room temperature and can be used for six hours," said Dr Raghuram Mallaiah, Director, Neonatology, Fortis LaFemme.

'Amaara' saved 449 premature babies from the donated milk in 537 cycles. The babies were fed with around 722 litres of milk during the period. Amaara Delhi supplies milk to preterm babies admitted in NICU of more than 30 hospitals in Delhi/NCR.

The largest government-run human-milk bank was inaugurated in Delhi last year with a capacity of as much as 300 litres.