Month: October 2018

Over the last year Amaara has successfully collected 307375 ML milk from 70 donor mothers
The milk has been delivered to 176 vulnerable new born babies across 31 hospitals in Bengaluru, Karnataka
In India prematurity and low birth weight are the biggest contributors of neonatal/infant mortality
Recent government surveys show prematurity is one of the 10 most common causes of mortality in all age groups

Bengaluru, 30th October 2018: Fortis La Femme (hospital for women & children), Richmond Road in association with the Breast Milk Foundation (BMF), a non-profit organization within the GNS Foundation, today celebrated the first Anniversary of Bengaluru’s first public Human Milk Bank, ‘’Amaara’’. The centre recognizes that breast milk is the best nutritional food source for infants and should be available to babies deprived of mother’s milk.
Fortis La Femme celebrates First Anniversary of Amaara
The First Public Medical Milk Bank in Bengaluru

Amaara is an initiative in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) Millennium Development Goals of reducing Infant Mortality rate. The WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recommend that the best feed for a baby who cannot be breastfed, is milk expressed from own mother or from another healthy mother.
‘’Fortis La Femme, Bengaluru unit is overwhelmed with the successful 1 year completion of Amaara Human Milk Bank after Delhi. The hospital has pioneered a collection system in which a mother can express the milk in the comfort of her home, a carrier from the bank will collect the milk in specialized freezer boxes and transport it to the bank to be sent to a premature baby whenever needed. Amaara strengthens our promise to be a globally respected woman and child care provider known for exemplary clinical & holistic wellness care’’ Mr. Srikant Subudhi, Facility Director- Fortis La Femme, Bengaluru, said.

Dr Ankit Srivastava, Founder- Breast Milk Foundation,said “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Donor Mothers who have donated their precious breast milk to the bank and we are delighted to see Amaara prosper and do a commendable service in helping families in need in Bengaluru. The milk bank is definitely making progress in a year, and we are trying to raise more awareness on mother’s milk and promote it through various channels. We hope to open more such branches extending the love and care of Amaara in the near future”
Dr. Raghuram Mallaiah, Director Neonatology, Fortis La Femme & Co-Founder Amaara said, ‘In India prematurity and low birth weight are the biggest contributors of neonatal/infant mortality. According to recent government surveys prematurity is one of the 10 most common causes of mortality in all age groups. Donor human milk goes a long way in helping save these very vulnerable babies in our society and there by decrease infant mortality’’.
Dr. Sreenath Manikanti, Head Neonatology, Fortis La Femme Bengaluru said, ‘’ For long Bengaluru needed a Public Human Milk Bank to serve many premature babies born in & around the city. Response to Amaara in Bengaluru has been emphatic. Bengaluru mothers came forward selflessly to donate their excess breast milk to help other babies in need. NNF Karnataka & many of my fellow Neonatologists across the city supported this initiative from Fortis La Femme & started using our Pasteurised Donor Breast Milk for the vulnerable preterm babies in their respective NICUs. So far 31 hospitals have been using our services and 176 preterm babies have been benefited. Demand is steadily growing. Many times we feel bad to refuse requests because of short of breast milk. I request the media to spread the word & motivate many more lactating mothers to come forward to donate any excess breast milk to help these vulnerable premies “.

Dr Suman, Donor Mother on Donating milk said, ‘’ I am a paediatrician and knowing how important Mother’s milk is to the baby made me realise that when I have excess milk I did not want to waste it. I had seen many mothers unable to feed their babies , so when I thought about it I felt that donating my milk will save babies ,which is better way to say that I too care about kids other than to just treat them when they are ill. I wish I could inspire more mothers like me to come forward to donate the liquid gold for the babies in need. I wish milk banks like Amaara can start their services in other cities too’’.

Ms Shwetha Kamath, Recipient Mother on receiving the milk said, “ My babies were premature, triplets delivered at 31 weeks and weighed 1.5 kgs each. I did not have enough breast milk to feed them all and was worried about their nutrition. Amaara milk bank was the God sent angel for me and my babies. They were in NICU for 3 weeks and by the time they were discharged they were healthy enough with the nutrition from donor milk.”
The milk bank’s first Anniversary was supported by the donor and recipients mothers invited by the hospital to salute their willingness of donating milk and saving 176 precious lives along with Ms Spoorthi Vishwas, Actor, Founder & Director Karnataka Women Achievers Awards.

City Today News

(Tj vision media)

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