India’s First Mobile Human Milk Collection Unit Inaugurated at Sassoon General Hospital, Pune

A State of art Mobile Human Milk Collection Unit, the first in the country, was inaugurated at B. J. Govt.  Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital on Aug. 1 which is also the first day of World Breastfeeding Week

          Designed through a generous donation from Rotary Club of Poona, Van specifically designed for the purpose of collection of human milk has special designed chairs, breast milk pumps, air conditioner and baby cradle.

          During the Inaugural function Prof. & Head Dr. Sandhya Khadse said, “India’s exclusive breastfeeding rates are only 42%. For scaling up of exclusive breastfeeding rates in India human milk banks and mobile human milk collection units will play a vital role. The mobile human milk collection unit shall go to the door steps of voluntary donor mother & milk collected would be utilized for preterm babies in NICU”

          Dean Dr. Ajay Chandanwale said, “Just like blood donation human milk donation is supreme donation. With this mobile human milk collection unit no needy baby shall remain devoid of human milk.” He also hoped that other Rotary clubs will come forward to create awareness in the society about human milk banking. He praised the Department of Pediatrics for their sincere efforts towards making human milk bank and mobile human milk collection a reality

          Rotary Club President Rear Admiral (Rtd.) Dharamvir Taneja said, “It is a matter of pride for rotary club to be associated with India’s first mobile human milk collection unit. Rotary club dreams of a Healthy India and this can be achieved when all children in India are healthy”

          Rotarian D.G Prashant Deshmukh said,” Rotary serving humanity is the theme for year 2016. We would collaborate with Sassoon General Hospital in future to serve the poor & needy patients”

Inaugural function was also attended by Rtn. PDG Sam Irani and Mrs. Ketayun Irani, Rtn. PDG Vivek Aranha, Rtn. PP Ravi  Gosavi (Project coordinator). Rtn. PP Praful Shah, Rtn. PP Arun Sathe, Rtn. Sahab Saran (Hon. Sec.), Rtn. K. P. Jayapalan along with Dr. Ramesh Bhosale, Dr. Sambarey (Prof. and Head, Obst and Gynecology Dept.), Dr. Bhardwaj, Mr. Shelke (Head, Medical Social Work Cell) All other Heads of the Department and Faculty from Pediatric Department Dr. Chhaya Valvi, Dr. Rajesh Kulkarni and Dr. Uday Rajput, Dr. Rahul Dawre and Dr. Priyanka Badjate. Dr. Harish Tatiya, Dr. Nitish Agarwal and Dr. Ibrahim Ansari  from Dean Office were present.