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Joshua Kwok

Hong Kong’s first breast milk bank supported 120 infants in its first six months, with 230 mothers donating 900 litres (1,902 pints), just shy of exceeding health authorities’ initial full-year target.
Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau on Monday recognised donors’ selfless dedication, saying that “donating breast milk could even be harder than donating blood”.
“Donors have to take care of and breastfeed their own newborns while undergoing blood tests before they can donate their breastmilk. This requires a lot of effort,” he said at the official opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank.
He added that the authorities initially had set a target of collecting 1,000 litres per year, a goal that was almost reached in half that time.
Donation collection started on January 6 this year and began providing breast milk in March to babies with health complications due to illness or premature birth in neonatal intensive care units.
Among the 230 registered donors, Yoyo Chan Ho-yin shared her personal motivation at the ceremony, driven by her experience of two miscarriages.
“The moment I knew about the programme, I decided that I would want to help save the lives of other premature and sick babies,” said Chan, who was at the ceremony with her one-year-old daughter.
“I feel honoured to be able to help them, and I am moved to see all the healthy babies here today.”

She also spoke of her disappointment at no longer being eligible to donate, with donors needing to be active breastfeeding mothers of babies under the age of one.
“I was a little bit sad that I am no longer an eligible donor, because when I expressed milk to donate, I thought of other babies that needed breast milk and that I could help them,” she added.
“Donating was a tough process and had taught me to be persistent, but now my daughter and I will grow together and move on to a new stage.”
A mother surnamed Tong, whose twin babies were born prematurely in March at eight and four weeks respectively, shared her struggle to breastfeed due to the impact of the premature birth on her hormone levels.
“I cried out loud looking at the babies after I recovered from the birth scars, with a lot of medical equipment and tape attached to my newborns. I could imagine that it must be difficult for them,” she said.
“Luckily, my husband had decided for them to receive donations from the bank after we learned about the potential benefits, and doctors cleared up our concerns on bacteria and infections.
“We thank the donor mothers for their selflessness in enduring such an energy-draining process just to help other babies and the bank for its just-in-time establishment to be able to provide milk for our babies.”


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Donors Lau Yin-fuk and Yovo Chan Hoyiu, left, alongside Dr Tania Wan Wai-ving, centre, and parents of a recipient child, Mrs and Mr Tong, at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank. Photo: Jelly Tse

Attendees at the official opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank, held at the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital in Kai Tak. Photo: Jelly Tse

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Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank Director Dr Rosanna Wong has urged more mothers to become donors. Photo: ISD

Ida Chan said she signed up to be a breast milk donor after learning about some of her friends’ premature babies being severely underweight. Photo: ISD

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The breast milk bank’s director has said that breast milk is “the best food” for babies as it offers nourishment and various other health benefits. Photo: Shutterstock

The facility is located at the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital. Photo: May Tse

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Under the breast milk bank’s criteria, donors must be mothers of babies under the age of one, in addition to being in good health and currently lactating. Photo: May Tse

Dr Rosanna Wong (left), director of the Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank, joins donors Lau Yin-fuk (second from left) and Yoyo Chan (centre) and their infants at a press event for the facility’s opening. Photo: May Tse

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Hong Kong

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230 mothers donated 900 litres, helping to support 120 infants in neonatal intensive care units


230 mothers donated 900 litres, helping to support 120 infants in neonatal intensive care units.


Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong’s breast milk bank close to eclipsing yearly target in first 6 months

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}230 mothers donated 900 litres, helping to support 120 infants in neonatal intensive care units

230 mothers donated 900 litres, helping to support 120 infants in neonatal intensive care units