Rainbow Hospital launches milk bank

Jubilee Hills: On the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week, the Rainbow group of Hospitals has set up Rainbow Mother's Milk Bank at Rainbow Children's Hospitals here.

As per the World Health Organisation, increasing breastfeeding to near-universal levels could save more than 8 lakh lives every year, the majority being children under six months. Breastfeeding also decreases the risk of mothers developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It is also estimated that increased breastfeeding could avert over 20,000 maternal deaths each year due to Breast Cancer.

Dr Pranathi Reddy, HOD (Obstetrics, Birth Right), Rainbow Hospital, said, "Breast milk is the best gift for the baby as it promotes better health for mother and baby. Donating blood can save lives is an accepted fact in society however not too many people are aware that milk also can be donated and it can save lives too." She further added, "Wet nursing was followed in earlier days when mother's milk was not sufficient. However, it has an inherent risk of infection. Hence, the mother's bank is the safest alternative."

The milk bank was inaugurated by Padmabhushan Sania Mirza who had delivered her firstborn at Birth Right by Rainbow Hospitals she said, "I wish it was there before when I was breastfeeding, I wish this milk bank was there before I would have done that as well [donate breast milk]. I urge people to come out and donate and would like to congratulate Rainbow for starting such an amazing initiative – for saving lives which you already do but saving babies who are struggling from the time they are born."