In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, apprehensions about the safety of milk sourced from human milk banks for newborns are unnecessary, experts say.
In a State like Tamil Nadu that has been setting up milk banks at various hospitals, adequate precautionary measures are in place, they say.
As the World Breastfeeding Week that is observed during the first week of August comes to an end, experts in child health, stressing on exclusive breastfeeding, say human milk banks are safe during the pandemic.
J. Kumutha, expert adviser-Child Health, National Health Mission-Tamil Nadu, said that according to the available scientific evidence, milk from milk banks was safe for newborns. “There is a three-tier safety net starting with precautionary measures during collection from donors, pasteurisation of milk at 62.5 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes and freezing it,” she said. Read More…
