Jamaica Hospital Medical Center recently celebrated the major milestone of becoming the first hospital in Queens to offer a milk depot to the community.
To mark the momentous occasion, the hospital hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Staff involved in the coordination of the project as well as representatives from the New York Milk Bank and other community organizations were in attendance.
During the opening remarks, Roseanne Motti; Operations Manager for the New York Milk Bank, applauded members of Jamaica Hospital’s staff for their determination to bring the project to fruition and offer women and babies in the community a much-needed service.
The event’s guest of honor, Conny Suriel, was recognized for being the milk depot’s first donor. Upon accepting a beautiful bouquet of roses, Conny shared with guests why giving back was so important to her. “I’m a donor because I am honoring the memory of my baby.” Although Conny’s daughter passed away, she felt that it was important to give other babies a chance to survive by becoming a donor.
Jamaica Hospital’s milk depot is vital because it serves as a safe location where women in the community who choose to donate their excess breast milk can make a deposit. After the milk is collected, it is sent to the New York Milk Bank for testing and pasteurization. Once processed, the milk is distributed to help mothers who are unable to breastfeed their premature babies or infants with weakened immune systems.
For babies who are born premature, breast milk not only serves as nutrition but also as medicine. It helps to reduce the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a life-threatening disease that can damage or destroy the intestinal tracts of preemies.
Jamaica Hospital’s milk depot is now open to the public and welcomes donors approved by the New York Milk Bank to donate their excess breast milk.
If you are interested in becoming a donor, please contact the New York Milk Bank at 212-956-6455. A representative will help you with the process, which includes a health screening and a blood test. Further information is also provided on their website, www. NYMilkBank.org.
To learn more about depositing milk at Jamaica Hospital’s milk depot, located on the 3rd floor of the Axel building, in the WIC department, please call 718-206-8607 or visit, www. JamaicaHospital.org.