A Call for Breastmilk Donations for Victims of Pablo

STOP! Are you going to donate milk? Read THIS first.  Please donate frozen and not thawed milk.  Thank you!

We are mobilizing again and calling for breastmilk donations to share to the victims of Pablo in Compostela Valely, Mindanao. Here is the call from Dr. Mianne Silvestre:

I just received an SMS from Dr Paul Zambrano of UNICEF who is at an emergency meeting in Davao with Sec Dinky Soliman of DSWD. Sec Dinky is appealing for donations of human milk. 

Let's do this, friends! Let's stand by the principles of Infant Feeding in Emergencies IFE and show how Breastfeeding Missions should be done. 

Team Unang Yakap - EINC will be networking with contacts in Davao while I am committing the UP-PGH Lactation Unit and Milk Bank to help with the pasteurization of donor milk. Calling on the other Milk Banks - Fabella and PCMC and if already set up the Zamboanga City Medical Center to help out. Let's give responsibly. Let's save lives. Let's give hope.

During the last emergency during the rain with no name, I posted about why we should not support calls for formula milk donations.  Again, let me reiterate: if you are asking for formula milk donations or offering formula milk donations, please note that it is illegal under the Milk Code UNLESS you apply for and have clearance from the IAC. Please read these guidelines - http://www.fda.gov.ph/AO/AO%2003-B,%20s.%202000.pdf SCROLL TO IV-B.

If you are able to donate breastmilk, we have 2 pick-up points - one in Metro Manila and another one in Davao.

You can donate your milk to the Medela House at 29 1st Street New Manila Quezon City. Office hours are from 830am to 530pm.  But if you need to drop off your milk outside those hours, the guard has been informed to receive them.

If you are in Mindanao, you can donate your milk to The Pod - Door 4, Plaza del Carmen, Loyola Street, Obrero Davao City 8000.  Phone number 302-2737.  ALGON Bldg., 159 JP Cabaguio Ave. Davao City.  Look for Lanie or Neneng.  Contact 082-2273154.  The milk will be frozen to await transport to Brokenshire/ComVal.

Please do not be insulted when we request for information and keep records about the milk you donate.  We  need to keep records to help promote the cause that breastmilk donations are indeed feasible for infant feeding during emergencies.

Will be updating this post with more pick-up points soon.

Dr. Lei Camiling-Alfonso shares additional drop off points, established through Dr. Tin Bernardo, who heads the Philippine Pediatric Society's Breastfeeding Committee :

The lactation unit at The Medical City, Ortigas will be accepting milk donations from 8am-5pm, Monday to Friday, 5th floor. Milk donors may call 635 6789 loc 6720 and look for Ms. Recy (lactation nurse) or Ms. Mel (lactation midwife). 

The Lactation Unit of St. Luke’s Medical Center, Global City now accepts breast milk donations for Pablo victims. Donors may drop frozen milk on this schedule: Monday – Friday, 9-12noon. For mothers who want to express milk at the lactation unit, they may do so from Thursday – Saturday, 3-5pm. You may bring your own milk containers. Please look for Ms. Joyce (Lactation Nurse), you may get in touch with them through 7897700 local 8829 or 09228825407.

Dr. Lei also shares that the following institutions also accept milk donations regularly and not just during times of disaster:

Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital Human Milk Bank Moms may drop their frozen milk, or express breastmilk for donation at the unit from Monday to Friday, 8-5pm, 7345561-65 local 156 Contact person: Ms. Linda   

Moms can donate frozen milk to the PGH Human Milk Bank, Mon-Thu 8-4pm and Friday to Sunday 8-12noon. Coordinate first with Ms. Grace or Ms. Tina through 0918 769 1662 or 554 8400 local 3415/3417/3418. Please mention that it will be for the Pablo Milk Drive. Beyond this schedule, and for donations on Dec 23-26, please coordinate with the Neonatology Fellow on duty by calling 554 8400 local 3409.

Philippine Children’s Medical Center Human Milk Bank, 2/F Moms may drop their frozen milk, or express breastmilk for donation at the unit from Monday to Friday, 8-5pm, 9246601 local 288 Contact person: Ms. Rose (Milk Bank Nurse)  

For people in the South, you can drop off the milk at #68 Manila Bay Drive, Southbay Gardens, Sucat Paranaque, M-F, 7-10pm. Weekends 10-5pm. Interested donors may make arrangements with Joyce through 09228825407.

Additional drop off point for moms in the South: 7-10am at 179 Batangas West, Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City.  Contact person: Melissa Menes

Update: 12 December 2012 - Attached is the Joint Nutrition Cluster Statement on Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies issued by the Center for Health Development - Davao Region

Update: 14 December 2012: Thank you SONA for featuring the call for milk donations.

We also need transport volunteers.  Dr. Lei Camiling-Alfonso shares that they need moms to transport the milk from the drop-off points to UP-PGH for pasteurization.  So far, the 2 drop-off points that need transport to UP-PGH would be The Medical City and St. Luke's Global City.  If you are able to bring milk from these drop-off points to UP-PGH, please volunteer.  Transport volunteers are being collated by the Medela Moms so contact them at 725-3723 or send an email to medelamoms(at)gmail(dot)com with this subject: TRANSPORT VOLUNTEER.  Then write which route you would like to volunteer for - TMC-UP or Global-UP and please provide your cellphone number.  Of course, this is subject to your availability so we will be creating a list of volunteers to contact during the breastmilk runs.   We would also be asking the volunteers to provide cooler and ice packs to transport milk.  If you only have a small cooler, not to worry, only the milk that can fit your cooler will be sent through you.  So please still volunteer.