Human Milk Banks-An Increasing Importance

Human milk as the primary source of nutrition for infants has received increased support over the past decade from both International and National groups. Banked human milk is regarded as “the next best” after the biological mother’s breast milk. A human milk bank is a service established for collecting, screening, processing, storing and distributing donated human milk. It is used mainly in vulnerable infants who admitted in NICU’s where their mother’s own milk is unavailable or insufficient. Feeding these infants with breast milk can significantly reduce infections. According to DD health vital Statistics 2013-2014, birth rate in Coimbatore 15.9, and infant mortality rate was 6.24.Coimbatore faces its own unique challenges, having highest number of infant mortality. Hence the Government , Health experts and the Civil society must join hands to propagate the concept of human milk banking for the sake of vulnerable infants. This analysis was carried out to identify the current status of human milk banks and the need of initiating several human milk banks in the city.