Human Milk Bank

Need Analysis and Background

India has one of the world’s highest rates of neonatal mortality, with over 750,000 newborn deaths annually. A significant portion of these deaths are preventable and are caused by complications of preterm birth, low birth weight, and infections. These risks are disproportionately higher among babies born to mothers from marginalized and underprivileged backgrounds, where malnutrition, lack of maternal education, and limited healthcare access are prevalent. The World Health Organization (WHO) strongly advocates for exclusive breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for newborns. However, in many cases, particularly in NICUs, mothers are unable to breastfeed due to illness, stress, or premature delivery. For such high-risk infants, donor human milk is the next best life-saving alternative.

Recognizing this urgent need, the decision to establish a Human Milk Bank at St. John’s Medical College Hospital, one of India’s most reputed institutions for neonatal and maternal care, ensures a combination of advanced medical infrastructure, trained staff, and community trust. St. John’s services a large number of underprivileged families from urban and rural Karnataka, making it a strategic and impactful location for this initiative.

To establish a state-of-the-art Human Milk Bank at St. John’s Medical College and Hospital to serve premature and critically ill neonates, especially from marginalized families.
To reduce neonatal mortality and infections by providing pasteurized, safe donor human milk to infants who cannot be breastfed by their mothers.
To sensitize and mobilize lactating mothers from the hospital and community for voluntary milk donation.
To develop a sustainable milk banking model integrated with NICU care protocols and public health systems.
To support health equity by ensuring poor and underserved infants have access to safe nutrition from the very start of life.

Infrastructure Setup: Establishment of a 5-litre capacity Human Milk Bank equipped with pasteurizer, deep freezers, milk analyzers, sterilizers, and microbiological testing systems, housed within the hospital campus.
Donor Mobilization: Engagement of lactating mothers at the hospital with pre- and post-natal counseling sessions to identify and encourage eligible milk donors.
Milk Collection and Processing: Collection of surplus breast milk, pasteurization using WHO-approved Holder method, microbiological testing, and secure cold-chain storage.
NICU Integration: Priority delivery of donor milk to neonates admitted in NICU, SCNU, and paediatric units, focusing on underprivileged patients.
Capacity Building: Training of hospital nurses, pediatricians, lactation consultants, and social workers on protocols, safety, and ethical practices in milk banking.
Community Awareness: Hosting awareness drives and educational sessions within hospital and partner communities about the benefits of milk donation and breastfeeding.

Lives Touched, Resources Spent & Final Impact

Parameter	Details
Hospital Partner	St. John’s Medical College & Hospital, Bangalore
Initial Milk Bank Capacity	5 Litres
Lactating Mothers Counselled	200+
Donor Mothers Enrolled	100+
Neonates Benefited (Year 1)	200+ (Primarily from low-income families)
Awareness Sessions Conducted	3 (Including community health workers and mothers)
Capital Cost (Equipment + Setup)	Rs. 33,00,000/-( donated by RBM and MCKS)
Operational Cost (Year 1: staffing, consumables)	MAINTAINED BY ST JOHNS
Total Project Budget	Rs. 40,00,000/- (Including cost of Infrastructure borne by St John’s)
Average Cost per Infant Benefited /YEAR	Rs. 4,800/-
Long-Term Outcomes	Reduced neonatal infections, mortality; improved immunity and development
Broader Impact	Health equity, community sensitization, replicable public health model

Project Output

The establishment of a Human Milk Bank at St. John’s Medical College and Hospital represents a convergence of medical excellence, social compassion, and long-term health equity. By supporting the most vulnerable newborns from underprivileged families, this project saves lives and nurtures future generations.

Project Cost

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Lives Yearly

Human Milk Bank

Need Analysis and Background

Lives Touched, Resources Spent & Final Impact

Project Output

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