Hùng Vương Hospital in HCM City on Saturday (August 6) inaugurates a human milk bank, the largest in Việt Nam. Photo courtesy of the hospital

HCM CITY — Hùng Vương Hospital in HCM City opened the country’s largest human milk bank on Saturday (August 6).

Set up at a cost of nearly VNĐ6 billion (US$256,000), it can pasteurise more than 62 litres of milk a day, Hoàng Thị Diễm Tuyết, the director of the hospital, said.

It is part of efforts to reduce infant mortality, which remains high in Việt Nam, she said.

Breastfeeding is the best way to provide infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development, and it strengthens their immune system, she said.

It can provide breast milk to premature and sick babies whose mothers could not produce enough milk for them, she said.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Trường Sơn said that at present, the infant mortality rate in Việt Nam is still high, accounting for 70-80 per cent of all deaths in children under the age of one.

Studies have shown that among the solutions to reduce infant mortality, breast milk is the most important and has the greatest potential to impact child survival.

The inauguration of the milk bank is one of several activities to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, a global campaign held annually from August 1 to 7 to promote breastfeeding and improve infant health.

It is the second in HCM City and fourth in Việt Nam. — VNS