Georgia launches its first Human Milk Bank

Georgia's first Human Milk Bank has officially opened at the Iashvili Central Mother and Child Hospital in Batumi.

According to the country's Ministry of Health, cited by Report, the opening ceremony was attended by Georgia's Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs, Mikheil Sarjveladze.

According to the minister, the establishment of the Human Milk Bank is an important step toward improving the quality of maternal and child healthcare services, particularly in ensuring the healthy growth and development of high-risk newborns.

Adjara's Minister of Health and Social Protection, Nino Nizharadze, noted that the program will help protect the health of premature infants and other newborns classified as high-risk.

The ministry said the donor human milk will be provided exclusively to high-risk newborns based on medical indications and referrals from healthcare institutions through a voucher system.