Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank receives strong community support for safeguarding infants (with photos)

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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Tomorrow (May 19) marks the World Human Milk Donation Day. The Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank (HKBMB) has commenced service this January, and as of May 16, has already registered over 230 donors and collected more than 800 litres of breast milk to be prescribed to premature or critically ill newborns, providing the best possible nutrition. So far, about 90 clinically needy infants have benefitted and the results are heartening.

     Donors have to be currently lactating, and their babies have to be under 1 year old. As time passes, some donor mothers have been gradually completing their "mission", including Ida, a mother of a boy. She joined as a breast milk donor in January this year. Besides breastfeeding her son, she pumped extra breast milk for donation. In late March, as her son almost turned 1 year old, she had mixed emotions as she pumped her final batch for donation. She wrote the message "Breast milk Donation - Every Drop is Love. Please Support!" on the milk container. She had managed to donate 16 litres of breast milk in total. While she waved goodbye to her donation "mission", she wished recipient infants a healthy future, and hoped to bring comfort to their parents with her efforts.

     At the same time, another mother - Aqsa - has a premature son who is one of the beneficiaries of donated breast milk. He was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Hong Kong Children's Hospital due to a serious illness after birth. Although Aqsa knew breast milk contains rich nutrients and antibodies, and is easier to digest and absorb, she struggled with insufficient breast milk production. At this critical moment, Aqsa noticed the promotional leaflet in the hospital, and doctors introduced her to the HKBMB service. She decided to let her son receive donated breast milk, hoping it would speed up his recovery.

     Aqsa was delighted to see her son's good absorption of the milk and gradual weight gain. "I am deeply grateful to the mothers who selflessly donated their breast milk. Their kindness has provided my son with better nutrition and helped us through this urgent situation," said Aqsa. She hopes more capable mothers will support breast milk donation to help infants and families in need.

The Director of the HKBMB, Dr Rosanna Wong, said, "The HKBMB has received strong support from the community in just half a year, reflecting Hong Kong's spirit of compassion and willingness to make a difference. I would like to thank the frontline healthcare staff in public hospitals, the maternal and child health centres under the Department of Health, and all our partner organisations in promoting breastfeeding and breast milk donation. I call on expectant and new mothers to join this 'new force' of donors, passing on the baby-friendly spirit and contributing breast milk to spread love and hope."

     The HKBMB has set up a breast milk donor service centre on the ground floor lobby of Tower B of Hong Kong Children's Hospital, offering the latest information, counselling and breastfeeding support. The public can also visit the HKBMB website (www.ha.org.hk/hkch/hkbmb) for further details and to register as breast milk donors. Relevant pamphlets are also available at Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Paediatrics Departments in public hospitals, as well as maternal and child health centres under the Department of Health.

Ends/Sunday, May 18, 2025
Issued at HKT 10:00

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The Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank has drawn a strong response since its inception. As her son turned 1 year old, Ida has also completed her mission of donating breast milk. She has donated 16 liters of breast milk, helping infants with clinical needs.

The Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank has drawn a strong response since its inception. Ida, a registered donor at the Hong Kong Breastmilk Bank, expressed her feelings as she pumped her final donation batch at the end of March. She wrote the message "Breast milk Donation - Every Drop is Love. Please Support!" on the milk container. She hoped that this would inspire those around her to support the work of the Breast Milk Bank and help vulnerable infants in need.

The Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank has drawn a strong response since its inception. Registered donor Ida's refrigerator was filled with her donated breast milk. She shared, "I am grateful that my body is able to produce extra breast milk to benefit the infants in need. I hope that other capable mothers will join as donors and bring hope to vulnerable lives and their families!"

The Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank has drawn a strong response since its inception. Aqsa's premature son has been hospitalised in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Hong Kong Children's Hospital due to a serious illness, and doctors prescribed donated breast milk for him. Aqsa was worried about her son's condition and felt distressed due to her insufficient breast milk supply. She expressed heartfelt gratitude to the loving and selfless breast milk donors who gave her son the opportunity to receive optimal nutrition during this critical time.

The Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank (HKBMB) has drawn a strong response since its inception. Donor milk, processed under stringent protocols at the HKBMB, is distributed to nine public hospitals with Neonatal Intensive Care Units across Hong Kong. Healthcare professionals then administer appropriate portions according to each recipient infant's needs.