Kerala’s milk banks rewrite history: Over 17,000 babies saved with donated breast milk

Thiruvananthapuram: Milk banks set up in Kerala’s hospitals are scripting a silent revolution in child care. In just a short span, 17,307 infants have received life-saving breast milk, thanks to the generosity of 4,673 mothers.

The initiative is currently running at Kozhikode Medical College, Thrissur Medical College, and Ernakulam General Hospital. Of these, Kozhikode alone has supported 11,441 babies, followed by Thrissur with 4,870 and Ernakulam with 996. Encouraged by the success, the Health Department is now preparing to expand the network, with new milk banks coming up at Thiruvananthapuram SAT Hospital and Kottayam Medical College.

Breast milk is considered nature’s first vaccine, crucial for a baby’s survival and immunity. It must be given within the first hour of birth and exclusively for the first six months. But in many cases, such as when mothers are ill, underweight babies are born, or mothers are on ventilators, breastfeeding becomes impossible. Milk banks are stepping in to bridge this gap, ensuring that no newborn is deprived of this vital nourishment.

Collected from volunteer mothers, breast milk undergoes rigorous screening and processing before storage, making it both safe and long-lasting. Freezers allow it to be preserved for months, ready for babies in need. The main donors include mothers visiting hospitals and even mothers whose own children cannot consume milk due to illness.

Alongside, the Health Department and Women and Child Development Department have been rolling out breastfeeding awareness programs. Public and hospital-based breastfeeding centers, along with the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in 45 hospitals, are helping normalise breastfeeding and support mothers.

Health experts say milk banks are not just a medical innovation but a social movement, challenging taboos, empowering mothers, and saving thousands of newborn lives. Families are urged to support breastfeeding, while mothers are reminded that their milk is a priceless gift that can change another baby’s life.