Friday March 29, 2024
SNc Channels:

Search
About Salem-News.com

 

Jan-15-2010 20:09printcomments

Breast Milk Donations Needed for Haiti Quake Victims

A spokesperson for the group says all breast milk donations are screened and pasteurized before delivery.

Haitian refugees
Photo of Haitian refugees courtesy: United Nations

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The World Health Organization[1] and Adventist Medical Center are asking for human breast milk donations to help babies of the Haiti quake, and a Portland, Oregon group is the connection point for those who can help.

The Adventist Medical Center’s breast milk donor depot opened in August 2009 as the only donor depot in Portland, and one of only two donor depots in the Pacific Northwest. It has been the subject of a past Salem-News.com article[2] .

The depot is prepared to accept donations from qualified mothers. Peggy Andrews, registered nurse and lactation consultant at Adventist Medical Center said, "In the case of premature and sick children, human milk is particularly critical to improving health outcomes."

It seems quite obvious that the injured and orphaned infants in Haiti would benefit greatly from this unique NW group's mission. Their Website contains additional information[3].

In order to become a donor, a lactating mother needs to contact the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) at 1-866-998-4550 to be pre-screened via phone.

If approved by the HMBANA, the mother should then contact her OBGYN and pediatrician for approval and to get a blood test done.

Finally, the mother’s milk should be delivered to Adventist Medical Center’s Family Birth Place at 10123 SE Market St., Portland, Ore., 503-251-MAMA.

A spokesperson for the group says all breast milk donations are screened and pasteurized before delivery.

[1] World Health Organization home page

[2] Adventist Medical Center Opens First Human Milk Donor Depot in Portland, Oregon - Salem-News.com

[3] Human Milk Banking Association of North America.

Also, this is the World Health Organization Twitter page: twitter.com/pahoeoc




Comments Leave a comment on this story.
Name:

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.



Andrea in New Mexico January 20, 2010 12:25 pm (Pacific time)

The HMBANA says that the WHO has not asked for breastmilk donations at this time, and that Haiti is not taking them.

Editor: Yes, there was confusion at our end on this and we apologize.  We were contacted about inaccurate information in this report and implemented corrections last night.  It is correct that the donations are not being accepted, but the group would like to be ready to go if the need comes up, thank you Andrea.


January 20, 2010 3:35 am (Pacific time)

The Human Milk Banking Association of North America has issued a statement on Haiti: http://www.hmbana.org/index/haiti


Barbara January 19, 2010 9:31 am (Pacific time)

How are they planning on getting the milk to Haiti, and how will it be stored? There are no shipping companies delivering to Haiti, and no electricity so how will the milk be kept frozen? Seems like someone is jumping on the "please make a donation" before all the facts are finalized on how to do this.


Natalie January 15, 2010 8:58 pm (Pacific time)

Last time I wanted to donate breast milk I had to go through so many requirements, that I lost my interest.

[Return to Top]
©2024 Salem-News.com. All opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Salem-News.com.


Articles for January 14, 2010 | Articles for January 15, 2010 | Articles for January 16, 2010
The NAACP of the Willamette Valley

Annual Hemp Festival & Event Calendar

Click here for all of William's articles and letters.

Sean Flynn was a photojournalist in Vietnam, taken captive in 1970 in Cambodia and never seen again.

Tribute to Palestine and to the incredible courage, determination and struggle of the Palestinian People. ~Dom Martin

Special Section: Truth telling news about marijuana related issues and events.