World Human Milk Donation Day: Pune hospital felicitates lactating mothers who donate breast milk
Dr D Y Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre Friday celebrated World Human Milk Donation Day by hosting a White Carpet Walk and felicitating the lactating mothers who have donated milk at the advanced milk bank of the hospital. The walk conducted in the hospital premises was inaugurated by Dr J S Bhawalkar, dean of the institution.
As per studies, one out of every 10 women in India cannot produce enough breast milk to nurse their babies for various reasons. As a result, this impacts the child’s overall rearing and people resort to alternatives that compromise the overall nutritional supply as required. Human Milk Bank donations are dedicated to ensuring the babies of these mothers are not deprived of the nutritional value they receive through breast milk.
More than 40 donor mothers participated in the walk. Ratna Mahajan, a 42-year-old woman who has donated 98 litre of her breast milk in the last two years has a four-year-old daughter.
“The doctor said there is no possibility for me to have a baby as I have passed the age of getting pregnant but by god’s grace, I was blessed with a baby girl which made me realise how helpless the mothers might feel when they are unable to lactate post their pregnancy. This made me help and support in donating breast milk,” she said. When asked if she had something to say to the mothers out there, she said, “Donate karte raho, iska koi side effects nahi hoga (keep donating, it does not have any side effects).”
Authorities at the institution said it is the only centre in Pimpri-Chinchwad which has the equipment that helps in pasteurising the milk donated by mothers making it suitable for the newborns.
Dr Shailaja Mane, Head, Department of Paediatrics, said, “India is home to the world’s largest population and hence has the maximum number of premature babies in the world. However, the ratio of milk banks available in India to cater to premature babies is highly disproportionate and this is the same even in the Metro cities of India.”
Mane added, “Secondly, awareness about milk donation is extremely poor in Pune and across the country. This initiative is focused on educating society on the significance and benefits of donating breast milk and encouraging lactating mothers to join this initiative.”
The awareness drive was supported by Dr P D Patil, Chancellor of Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, Dr Bhagyashree P Patil, Pro-Chancellor and Dr Yashraj Patil, Trustee and Treasurer of Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth Society.
