Donated milk is pasteurized and stored in germ-free conditions before it is provided for newborns in need (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – The first breast milk bank in thesouth of Vietnam became operational at the Tu Du Hospital in Ho Chi Minh Cityon April 10.
This bank was formed with the support from thenon-profit organisation FHI 360 – Alive & Thrive.
The donated milk is chosen from nursing motherswho have to pass strict checks to ensure that they do not have any diseases orbehaviours that may affect milk quality. After that, the milk is pasteurizedand stored in germ-free conditions. It will be provided for newborns who lackaccess to their own mothers’ milk or suffer from serious diseases.
Director of the Tu Du Hospital Le Quang Thanhsaid each year, his hospital records about 6,000 – 7,000 premature babies withdiseases who need breast milk to support their treatment and recovery.
However, most of them still have to use formulamilk due to various reasons. Therefore, the establishment of the breast milkbank will help address this urgent need.
In the short term, milk from the bank will besupplied to newborns at the Tu Du Hospital. When the donation source becomesmore abundant, it will be provided to other obstetric and pediatric hospitalsin HCM City like the Hung Vuong Hospital and the Children’s Hospital No. 1 and2, Thanh noted.
At the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister ofHealth Nguyen Viet Tien said the breast milk bank will support newborns withoutaccess to their own mothers’ milk, especially premature babies and those withserious diseases. It will also help improve public awareness of the importanceof breastfeeding.
He noted aside from milk donated by mothers inhospitals, the bank will also expand milk collection to families and businesseswhere millions of nursing mothers are ready to share their milk. In the longterm, the Ministry of Health plans to set up not only one or two breast milkbanks but multiply this model at all obstetric and pediatric hospitalsnationwide to ensure that all newborns can access breast milk.-VNA
The Breast Milk Bank under the Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children, the first of its kind in Vietnam, received 140 litres of milk donated by 46 nursing mothers, after two months of operation.
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Donated milk is pasteurized and stored in germ-free conditions before it is provided for newborns in need (Photo: VNA) 
