MCD Announces Plans for Groundbreaking "Milk Bank" at Swami Dayanand Hospital
In a pioneering move, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has proposed the establishment of the city's first municipal-run "milk bank" at Swami Dayanand Hospital. The budget, presented on December 9, allocated funds for a lactation management unit that aims to store mother's milk at low temperatures for future use, similar to the concept of a blood bank.
While the municipal commissioner did not delve into specifics during the budget speech, a senior doctor at Swami Dayanand Hospital shed light on the purpose and workings of this innovative initiative. The proposed "milk bank" intends to provide a solution for situations where newborns may be unable to feed or require intensive care. In such cases, stored mother's milk can be a valuable resource, ensuring that infants receive essential nutrition when the mother is either unable to lactate or faces diminished lactation levels.
The detailed proposal for the establishment of the "milk bank" will be submitted to civic authorities by Swami Dayanand Hospital. The process involves mothers using breast pumps to collect milk, which is then hygienically handled by trained staff and transported to the designated milk bank. The model takes inspiration from existing facilities, such as the one at AIIMS.
Despite the potential benefits, concerns have been raised regarding the feasibility of the project's execution due to funding constraints at the MCD. Storing mother's milk at low temperatures necessitates cutting-edge technology and a trained workforce, factors that might pose challenges in the long run.
The ambitious proposal has sparked debates, with some officials expressing reservations about its alignment with the MCD's primary healthcare mandate. Nonetheless, the "milk bank" could potentially extend its benefits to infants who have lost their mothers at birth or an early age.
In addition to the "milk bank" project, the MCD's budget for the year 2024-25 includes provisions for the construction of approximately 20 school buildings across different city zones, the integration of artificial intelligence for monitoring civic amenities, and the establishment of testing labs in 60 primary health centers under a public-private-partnership model. Further, a blood storage facility is slated to be initiated at Mata Gujri Hospital, according to the MCD's budget presentation on Saturday, which estimates a total budget of Rs 16,683.02 crore for the upcoming fiscal year.
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