Indian Badminton player and Arjuna Awardee Jwala Gutta, who welcomed her second child, recently announced her support for infant health by donating breast milk to a government hospital.
She announced her contribution on social media, emphasising the life-saving importance of donor milk.
In her post, she wrote: “Breast milk saves lives. For premature and sick babies, donor milk can be life-changing. If you’re able to donate, you could be a hero to a family in need. Learn more, share the word, and support milk banks!”
According to reports, Gutta has donated an impressive 30 litres of breast milk so far.
Jwala Gutta’s initiative is aimed at providing milk for babies who are left without mothers, as well as premature or critically ill infants in hospitals.
Breast milk is required for pre-term, low birthweight, orphaned babies or those whose mothers cannot produce enough milk.
These can be stored at milk banks where donor mothers (those who produce milk in excess of the requirement of their own babies) store their milk for their own babies or even pasteurise it to be donated to sick babies whose mothers are either sick themselves, unable to produce milk or are deceased.
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The medical industry is advancing every day, but still many premature or critically ill babies lack access to their mother’s milk, and donor milk plays an irreplaceable role in infant health and mortality rate. Recognizing this, a badminton player has used her voice and resources to make a difference, boosting milk bank donations and encouraging others to follow suit by donating many litres of her breast milk to a donation bank.
