Breast milk bank kicks off second distribution phase

Kelvin Wan

The Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank yesterday commenced the second phase of service to distribute donor breast milk to premature or critically ill newborns.

The processed donor breast milk has been supplied to nine public hospitals with neonatal intensive care units, where medical teams will prescribe breast milk based on newborns' clinical conditions, continuously monitor them, and adjust the necessary intake to ensure optimal nutrition.

"Since its inception on January 6 this year, the HKBMB has been receiving positive feedback and support from society," said HKBMB director Rosanna Wong Ming-sum. "We extend our heartfelt gratitude to dedicated mothers for registering as breast milk donors."

Wong added that more than 160 mothers have registered as breast milk donors, and that HKBMB has collected around 550 liters of breast milk as of last Friday.

It aims to collect around 1,000 liters of breast milk annually, benefiting 450 to 600 premature or critically ill newborns.

The Hospital Authority has said breast milk could help establish a protective barrier for newborns' health by providing adequate comprehensive nutrition and preventing infections and complications.

HKBMB has set up a breast milk donation service counter on the ground floor lobby of Tower B of Hong Kong Children's Hospital, offering the latest information, counseling and breastfeeding support.

Interested donors and members of the public can also visit the HKBMB website for further details and to register.

Breast milk donors must currently be lactating, and their babies must be under a year old. Hence, continuous donor recruitment is critical to HKBMB's ongoing service.