Southern region’s first breast milk bank opened in HCM City

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 in the
south of Vietnam became operational at the in Ho Chi Minh City
on April 10.

This bank was formed with the support from the
non-profit organisation FHI 360 – Alive & Thrive. 

The donated milk is chosen from nursing mothers
who have to pass strict checks to ensure that they do not have any diseases or
behaviours that may affect milk quality. After that, the milk is pasteurized
and stored in germ-free conditions. It will be provided for newborns who lack
access to their own mothers’ milk or suffer from serious diseases.

Director of the Tu Du Hospital Le Quang Thanh
said each year, his hospital records about 6,000 – 7,000 premature babies with
diseases who need breast milk to support their treatment and recovery.

However, most of them still have to use formula
milk due to various reasons. Therefore, the establishment of the breast milk
bank will help address this urgent need.

In the short term, milk from the bank will be
supplied to newborns at the Tu Du Hospital. When the donation source becomes
more abundant, it will be provided to other obstetric and pediatric hospitals
in HCM City like the Hung Vuong Hospital and the Children’s Hospital No. 1 and
2, Thanh noted.

At the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of
Health Nguyen Viet Tien said the breast milk bank will support newborns without
access to their own mothers’ milk, especially premature babies and those with
serious diseases. It will also help improve public awareness of the importance
of breastfeeding.

He noted aside from milk donated by mothers in
hospitals, the bank will also expand milk collection to families and businesses
where millions of nursing mothers are ready to share their milk. In the long
term, the Ministry of Health plans to set up not only one or two breast milk
banks but multiply this model at all obstetric and pediatric hospitals
nationwide to ensure that all newborns can access breast milk.-VNA