Like in many areas, Madurai has also been a pioneer in establishing breast milk bank. The first mother’s milk bank of Madurai was started in 1985 by a paediatrician, D. Murugadoss, on East Veli Street, primarily to cater to the needs of pre-term babies that were admitted to his private hospital for treatment.
In many cases, the mothers were convalescing in the Christian Mission Hospital or private hospitals dotting East and South Veli Streets and the babies were in Dr. Murugadoss’ hospital.
The doctor, who is no more, stored milk donated by lactating mothers in small stainless steel containers in the freezer of his refrigerator. Whenever the need arose, the container was taken out of the freezer and the milk brought to room temperature.
It helped in two ways. Babies, who could not be fed by their mothers, got their usual dose of milk. Mothers, who suffered from excess lactation or had lost their babies, visited the hospital to donate milk.
The joy of these mothers knew no bounds when they realised that they were involved in timely help.
As word spread, mothers from nearby homes and hospitals started to troop in to donate milk.
The donor’s milk helped in quick rejuvenation of pre-term and motherless babies.
