MGMGH Milk bank registers marked rise in donor numbers
The breast milk bank at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchi has seen a significant increase in donor numbers and milk distribution. Doctors are actively promoting breastfeeding awareness to address barriers like lack of education and modern lifestyle challenges.
Why it matters
Increased access to donor milk is critical for the survival and health of underweight and sick infants in neonatal care.
A total of 61,650 millilitres (ml) of mothers’ milk was issued to 176 beneficiaries in July by the breast milk bank at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH), reflecting a rise in the number of donors to the initiative this year, authorities said.
The expressed milk was donated by 92 women at MGMGH and eight donors from outside sources in July, according to official data provided by the milk bank.
The figure marks a significant increase from January this year, when 31,050 ml of milk provided by 93 donors benefited 141 infants.
“Thanks to counselling and awareness programmes, more new mothers are opting to breastfeed. A baby requires about 20 to 40 ml of mother’s milk 10 to 12 times a day. However, the number of mothers willing to donate their milk needs to increase in Tiruchi,” S. Padmapriya, paediatrician at the MGMGH, told The Hindu .
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