Construction has commenced on a mothers' milk bank at King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam, aimed at strengthening neonatal care services in the north coastal Andhra Pradesh region. The facility will collect and store breast milk from lactating mothers, which will then be pasteurised and made safe for use. The initiative is designed to improve access to essential nutrition for premature, low-birth-weight, and critically ill infants. The milk bank is expected to be operational within the next few months.
Funding and Support
The project has received significant financial contributions: AMCANA (Andhra Medical College Alumni of North America) and the Sushena Health Foundation each donated Rs 1 crore, while AMCOSA (AMC Alumni Association) contributed Rs 30 lakh, bringing the total funding to Rs 2.3 crore. The initiative is being implemented with support from several organisations, including Dhaatri Mothers Milk Bank & CLMC, UNICEF, the Andhra Pradesh government, the National Health Mission, Andhra Medical College, and KGH.
Lactation Management Centre
Dr. PV Sudhakar, AMCOSA general secretary and former principal of Andhra Medical College, stated that alongside the milk bank, a comprehensive lactation management centre (CLMC) will also be established. The CLMC will support breastfeeding practices and provide counselling to mothers facing lactation challenges. "Breast milk is essential for children to grow up healthy. The milk bank will play a crucial role in addressing the needs of newborns admitted to neonatal intensive care units, especially in a high-volume hospital like KGH, which handles thousands of deliveries each year. Many infants require specialised care, and access to safe donor breast milk can significantly improve survival rates and reduce the risk of infections," Dr. Sudhakar explained.
Services and Impact
The CLMC will focus on promoting breastfeeding awareness, offering counselling services, and educating mothers on lactation practices. It will also encourage safe human milk donation and assist mothers who are unable to breastfeed due to medical or other reasons. Once operational, the facility will follow standard protocols for collecting, screening, processing, and storing donated breast milk. This initiative is expected to strengthen neonatal care infrastructure, reduce infant mortality, and improve overall health outcomes for newborns. Officials state that the project represents a major step towards building a more supportive and responsive healthcare system for mothers and infants in Visakhapatnam and surrounding regions.
Role of the Mothers' Milk Bank at KGH
- Provide vital nutrition for premature, low-birth-weight, and critically ill babies
- Reduce infant mortality and infections through safe donor milk
- Improve survival rates of premature infants
- Promote breastfeeding awareness and safe human milk practices
- Support and counsel mothers facing lactation challenges
- Improve neonatal nutrition for better infant health outcomes
- Strengthen neonatal care, milk donation awareness, and public health systems
