Milk bank in Mumbai

Over the past five years, Sion Hospital in Mumbai, home to Asia's first breast milk bank, has received donations from 43,412 mothers, benefitting more than 10,523 newborns. This initiative has significantly reduced mortality rates among at-risk infants, particularly those with low birth weight and those whose mothers face postnatal complications. The milk bank, established in 1989, operates similarly to a blood bank, ensuring that donated milk is rigorously tested, pasteurized, and stored at -20°C. Each year, the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the hospital supports 1,500 to 2,000 newborns from an average of 10,000 to 12,000 births. Inspired by Sion's success, other hospitals across Western India are also establishing maternal milk banks. The ongoing efforts are part of the broader awareness campaign during National Breastfeeding Month to promote breastfeeding and support mothers.