THE first breast milk bank in Mindanao will soon be established next year at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) compound.
Justine Talahangit of Latch Davao said that there is already a budget for its construction. The milk bank facility will collect, screen, process, store, and distribute donated excess milk from lactating mothers.
"Hopefully, by 2018, it will start. It is included na sa budget last year pa," Talahangit said.
According to Talahangit, it was a collective effort of their group and other sectors through the support of Congressman Karlo Alexei Nograles in coming up with the project, geared to provide infants a healthy milk.
She added that milk bank is beneficial in case of calamities both man-made and natural disaster to address the milk needs of babies.
"It would be easier for us rather than mag-accept tayo ng donation na formula. So it's better [ang milk bank]," Talahangit said.
For hospitals, in cases when there is an immediate need for milk and if the mother has insufficient milk, the bank can support in feeding their child.
Meanwhile, with the ongoing conflict in Marawi City, Latch discouraged the idea of donating formula milk for babies in displaced areas because of its health risk.
"The reason why we discourage sending formula milk is it is not sterile. If these areas, if you are in these areas or let's say you are stuck in this type of calamity hindi accessible ang clean water and we need water to prepare your formula milk," Talahangit said.