Pune: Sahyadri Hospitals MomStory announced the completion of ten years of its Human Milk Bank Service in Pune, marking a significant milestone in the care of pre-term infants.
This service was initiated by Rotary Club Pune Pride under their impactful Yashoda Milk Bank Project. Over the past decade, more than 3500 pre-term infants have been saved, thanks to the generous donations of lactating mothers and the dedicated efforts of our medical team.
India sees approximately 23 million births annually, with Maharashtra accounting for about 10% of these births. With 13-15% of these births being premature, the need for human milk banks is ever-increasing.
Approximately 3-4 lakh premature babies are born annually in Maharashtra, of which around 1 lakh have very low birth weight. In cities like Pune, 1-2% of babies depend on milk banks for their survival. However, in Maharashtra, 90-99% of babies still lack access to milk banks and must struggle significantly for their survival.
Dr. Sunil Rao, Chief Operating Officer of Sahyadri Hospitals, highlighted the operational challenges and successes over the past decade. "Operating a human milk bank involves significant logistical and financial challenges. From the rigorous screening of donors to ensure safety, to the pasteurization and storage processes, each step requires meticulous attention and resources.
Despite these challenges, we remain dedicated to saving pre-term infants. There are very few milk banks in Pune to meet the daily requirements of such babies, making our efforts even more critical.
We have managed to extend our services beyond Pune to Kolhapur, Satara, and Solapur, thanks to our dedicated milk van and extensive awareness campaigns. The support from Rotary has been instrumental in overcoming these hurdles and ensuring a steady supply of donor milk," said Dr. Rao.
Dr. Pradeep Suryawanshi, Director & Head Department of Neonatology and Pediatrics at Sahyadri Hospitals MomStory, highlighted the crucial role of mother's milk for pre-term infants saying, "Mother's milk is essential for pre-term babies, offering vital nutrients and antibodies that support their growth and development.
Because their digestive systems are not fully developed, pre-term infants cannot properly digest formula milk, which can lead to serious complications.
The nutrients in mother's milk are key to building the infant's immune system and supporting healthy brain development. For these vulnerable infants, who often have underdeveloped organs, mother's milk significantly reduces the risk of infections.” Dr. Suryawanshi explained.
To increase the number of human milk donations, Sahyadri Hospitals operates a specialized milk van which is donated by Rotary Club of Pune Pride. This well-equipped van visits mothers' homes to collect their milk donations and assists in distributing the milk to various hospitals across Maharashtra.
