Jaipur to get first state-run mothers' milk bank

In good news for mothers who are unable to breastfeed their infants, a milk bank will soon be launched here, with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Rajasthan government, the J K Lone Hospital in the city and Norway’s Oslo University Hospital having been signed for the purpose.

The “Mother’s Milk Bank” will be set up by the end of this financial year at the Mahila Chikitsalaya near the Sanganeri Gate. “Jaipur will get its first state-run milk bank.

The MoU has already been signed in this regard,” said S D Sharma, superintendent of the J K Lone Hospital, a government-operated hospital for children. He added that though Udaipur has a functioning milk bank, it is run by an NGO.

The hospital administration, while lauding the government for taking up the milk bank initiative, recognised the challenge of getting donors in a conservative state like Rajasthan.
“Mothers of premature infants, or have given birth to stillborn infants, can donate milk.

But the real test will be to convince them. They would be provided adequate counseling so that they can come forward and donate. Even lactating mothers who are nursing their own infants and have surplus milk can donate,” the hospital superintendent said.

A paramedical team of staff and nurses has already been sent to Norway for training. The training would enable staffers to counsel donors to provide for infants deprived of breast milk.