Just as blood donations can save a mother facing complications during childbirth, breast milk donations and ‘milk banks’ are more than able to do the same for a child. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to safeguard child health and ensure survival. Breast Milk provides all the energy and nutrients that infants need for the first months of life and continues to provide up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one third during the second year of life.
There is therefore an urgent need for breast milk drives, like blood donation campaigns, because not all mothers can provide breast milk to their babies for various reasons, Breast milk is the ideal food for the growth and development of babies, especially during the first six months of life.This makes breast milk and banks vital. Breast milk banks serve well also as pool points of maternal milk where willing donors who have surplus milk make it available for vulnerable babies.
The milk provided undergoes screening for infectious diseases to confirm its safety before being presented to the recipient infant. These breast banks are of the utmost importance, specifically for premature infants who need specialized nutrition, and safekeeping. A steady milk supply is necessary for their survival – a demand banks can sustain.
Other recipients can include adopted babies and those whose mothers cannot exclusi.