Ever heard of 'ATM' giving out mother's milk?

Puducherry: Have you ever heard of ATM which gives out mother's milk?

In a rare development to nourish and save preterm babies, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) has set up a human milk bank in the hospital.

The bank's name is 'Amudham Thaippal Maiyam' (ATM). It will also offer breastfeeding counselling to mothers, according to a report in TOI.

It was inaugurated last Wednesday.

According to JIPMER director SC Parija,"It was a strong need as 30% of 1,500 babies born per month in JIPMER are of low birth weight and mostly preterm."

"Such banks must be set up in all NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) facilities; if mother's milk is unavailable, the next option is to use pasteurised donor human milk," SC Parija said.