ILOILO City – Hopes are high for the establishment of a human milk bank here with the soon-to-rise Iloilo City Hospital.
“Since subong natagaan na sang permit to build ang city hospital hopefully maupod sa ila plans,” said Councilor Candice Tupas, who authored a city ordinance establishing a human milk bank to support women and children in need of breast milk.
The Department of Health recently issued the required Certificate of Need (CON) to the city government for the proposed hospital.
The Iloilo City Hospital will rise in Barangay San Pedro, Molo district on a lot overlooking the Iloilo Esplanade.
Tupas’ ordinance mandates the establishment of a human milk bank section in a city-owned hospital’s pediatric department or maternity clinic.
“I am trying to get in touch with foundations, hopefully makakuha ta grant,” she said.
Mayor Jerry Treñas is amenable to the inclusion of a human milk bank in the city hospital plan.
In a previous interview, Tupas said the establishment of such bank rested on the availability of funds. Around P8 million is needed, Tupas said.
Having a milk bank “would encourage mothers to donate their breast milk,” she stressed.
“This will be used by sickly, neonate (newborn) in the ICU (intensive care unit). If we have a pasteurization machine, we can share it and refer it to other hospitals. And we can even give milk to other provinces,” said Tupas, a doctor by profession.
She said it is essential to establish human milk banks to provide access to breast milk when mothers become sick or are unable to breastfeed their babies.
She also noted that some non-government organizations advocating breastfeeding were willing to donate a pasteurization machine./PN
