Odisha’s first human milk bank inaugurated in Bhubaneswar’s Capital Hospital

Bhubaneswar: The first-ever human milk bank in Odisha was inaugurated at the pediatric ward of the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

Dr. Laxmidhar Sahu, Director of Capital Hospital said that the facility will be used to store mother’s milk and will be supplied to hospitals across the state when the need arises.

“Breast milk is an elixir for newborns. However, some mothers are unable to breastfeed their babies in the initial few weeks due to various reasons. In such situations, newborns suffer. This human milk bank will prove to be a boon in such cases,” Sahu said while speaking to the media.

Sahu further said that the authorities of the facility might launch a campaign that will encourage mothers to come forward to donate milk.

Meanwhile, Capital Hospital Deputy Superintendent Dr. Dhananjay Das informed that two lactating mothers came forward for donating milk on the first day of operation of the facility.

“Our volunteers are motivating mothers for milk donation. It is very simple and does not require several tests as done in the case of blood donation. Our responsibility is to preserve milk hygienically,” Das said.