KGH to set up mothers’ milk bank to boost neonatal care in north coastal AP

Visakhapatnam: Works have begun on establishing a mothers' milk bank at King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam as part of efforts to strengthen neonatal care services in north coastal Andhra Pradesh region. The bank will collect and store breast milk from lactating mothers, which will then be pasteurised and made safe for use. The initiative is aimed at improving access to essential nutrition for premature, low-birth-weight, and critically ill infants. The facility is expected to be ready in the next few months.For the establishment of the milk bank, AMCANA (Andhra Medical College Alumni of North America) and the Sushena Health Foundation contributed Rs 1 crore each, while AMCOSA (AMC Alumni Association) contributed Rs 30 lakh, bringing the total funding to Rs 2.3 crore. The initiative is being implemented with the support of several other organisations, including Dhaatri Mothers Milk Bank & CLMC, UNICEF, AP govt, the National Health Mission, Andhra Medical College, and KGH.Dr PV Sudhakar, AMCOSA general secretary and former principal of Andhra Medical College, said alongside the milk bank, a comprehensive lactation management centre will also be set up to 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.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 help 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. The initiative is expected to strengthen neonatal care infrastructure, reduce infant mortality, and improve overall health outcomes for newborns. Officials say 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 MOTHER'S MILK BANK AT KGHProvide vital nutrition for premature, low-birth-weight, and critically ill babiesReduce 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