THE MILK - BANK NG

Our Mission

Promoting the Health of Nigeria Babies by Providing Access to
Safe, Pasteurized Donor Human Milk.

Our Mission

Promoting the Health of Nigeria Babies by Providing Access to Safe, Pasteurized Donor Human Milk

About Us

"Nigeria premature babies, can now stay alive"

With support from the breastfeeding doctor and the Milk Booster Foundation, Dr Chinny has developed the first donor human milk bank in Nigeria.

Nigerian breastfeeding mothers with surplus milk supply are invited to become themilkbankng milk donors to provide pasteurized milk to nigeria infants for whom mother’s milk supply is unavailable or limited. The milk bank will provide milk to all hospitalised very low birth weight infants; low birth weight infants and healthy infants.

Meet Our Team

Dr. Chinny Obinwanne

Medical Director

Chibu

Milk Bank Director

Chike

Milk Bank Manager

Favour

Milk Bank Technician

Peju

Milk Bank Program Assistant

Omoye

Milk Bank Technician

Get Involved

Be a Donor!

You are likely to qualify as a donor if:

  • You are generally healthy
  • You do not take medications or herbal supplements on a regular basis (with exceptions)
  • You do not smoke
  • You are willing to undergo a blood test
  • You are able to arrange for transportation of your milk to our drop-off site
  • If your pumped milk is within ten months of pump date

You are not eligible to donate milk if:

  • You have a positive blood test result for HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B or C, or Syphilis
  • You or your sexual partner is at risk for HIV
  • You use illegal drugs
  • You smoke or use tobacco products including nicotine patches or nicotine gum, electric cigarette
  • You have received an organ transplant, tissue transplant, or a blood transfusion in the last four months
  • You regularly consume more than two alcoholic drinks per day
  • Between 1980-1996, you were in the United Kingdom for more than 3 months

Four Easy Steps to Becoming a Milk Donor!

Step One

Complete the short interest form

Click here

Step Two

Complete a 10-15 minute phone screening

Click here

Step Three

Complete and return an informational packet; this will include a form for you and your baby’s doctor to fill out.

Click here

Step Four

Have a complimentary blood test done at

Click here

*Be sure to do the phone screening BEFORE you go for the test.

Collect, Store, and Drop Off Your Milk!

Milk Collection

We are only able to accept milk for donation that is stored in single-use bags or bottles.

  • Always wash your hands before expressing or handling your milk
  • All pump parts that come into contact with skin should be removed and cleaned on a regular basis
  • Milk should be refrigerated within 30 minutes of pumping
  • Milk can be kept in the refrigerator (coldest part) no more than 96 hours (4 days) before being frozen.
  • You can add expressed milk into the same bag throughout the day, as long as the bag is consistently refrigerated and then frozen within 24 hours
  • Wait for a minimum of 6 hours (for one drink) and 12 hours (for more than one drink) before pumping if you consumed an alcoholic beverage

Labelling the Milk

All bags should be labelled with the following:

  • Donor ID Number

  • Last Name

  • Pump Date

Pumping Powerful Milk

As you breastfeed and the breast empties, the milk goes from being thin, lower-calorie ‘foremilk’ to thick, higher-calorie ‘hindmilk’. Although foremilk is thin, it contains critical antibodies. The hindmilk is calorie-rich and is incredibly beneficial for low birth weight babies to gain weight! Please be sure to include foremilk and hindmilk so the babies receiving the milk can grow.

Milk Storing

  • Store milk in freezer until you are ready to donate
  • The best practice is if your donation reaches the Milk Bank freezers by 3 months after the earliest date of pumping (if milk is stored in a deep freezer within 6 months is fine).
  • If you have milk older than 3 months, please contact the milk bank to discuss whether you should donate this milk.
  • Remember to refrigerate or freeze your milk within 30 minutes of pumping.
  • You may refrigerate your milk for up to 96 hours (4 days) before freezing
  • Check freezer temperatures regularly
  • Milk must be pumped within the first year postpartum
  • Do not scald (heat) milk that you plan to donate

Need more milk storage bags?

Contact us at email or mobile

Dropping Off Your Milk

To find a drop off site near you, please contact us via email or mobile

Donor Screening

Getting Your Blood Test

In order to provide the safest milk possible for preterm and critically ill babies, we require all donor moms to complete a blood test to screen for harmful viruses. The Milk Bank NG will cover the cost of these tests. All tests will be completed at

The lab will test for:

  • HIV I & II
  • RPR (syphilis)
  • HTLV I & II (Human T-Lymphotrophic Virus)
  • Hepatitis B (HbsAg)
  • Hepatitis C (HCV)

Before taking the blood test, please be sure to complete your initial phone screening and obtain your Donor ID number.

Find your nearest Lab

Getting Your Blood Test

In order to complete your file and be approved for donation, we will need your completed informational packet, lab work, and health forms from your healthcare provider. The approval process can take anywhere from one to four weeks.