Abstract:
Background: Human milk is the optimal source of nutrition for newborns, providing essential nutrients, immunological protection, growth factors, and developmental benefits. For infants whose mothers are unable to breastfeed, donor human milk serves as the recommended alternative. Human Milk Banks (HMBs) play a critical role in collecting, processing, storing, and distributing safe donor human milk, particularly for preterm, low-birth-weight, and vulnerable neonates.
Objectives: To highlight the evolution of human milk banking in India, describe the innovative Mobile Human Milk Collection Van initiative, and assess its contribution to improving donor milk availability and neonatal outcomes.
Methods: A descriptive review of the development of human milk banking services, implementation of a Mobile Human Milk Collection Unit, and institutional experiences from Government Medical Colleges in Maharashtra was undertaken. Data regarding milk collection, donor participation, beneficiaries, and operational processes were analyzed.
Results: India has emerged as a leader in human milk banking, with more than 100 Human Milk Banks functioning nationwide. The Mobile Human Milk Collection Van, the first initiative of its kind in India, enhanced donor outreach, facilitated community-based milk collection, and promoted breastfeeding awareness. The van is equipped with refrigeration facilities, breast pumps, counseling space, and trained healthcare personnel. Following implementation, donor participation increased substantially, improving support for orphaned, preterm, and critically ill newborns.
Conclusion: Human Milk Banks are an essential component of neonatal healthcare and breastfeeding promotion. The Mobile Human Milk Collection Van represents an innovative, scalable, and community-centered approach to increasing donor milk availability and supporting vulnerable infants. Expansion of similar initiatives across India could significantly improve neonatal nutrition and survival outcomes.
Biography:
Dr. Sandhya Satish Khadse, MBBS, MD, is a senior pediatrician and Dean with over 37 years of experience in pediatrics, neonatal health, public health, and medical education. She has published more than 40 scientific papers and pioneered India's first Human Milk Collection Van, an innovative initiative supporting breastfeeding and neonatal nutrition. She has mentored numerous postgraduate students, led maternal and child health programs, and received several national awards for excellence in healthcare leadership and breastfeeding promotion.
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