LUCKNOW: Children born prematurely and those whose mothers have trouble lactating due to various reasons, including ill-health, will now won’t be deprived of human breast milk, the safest, easily digestible, perfect mix of vitamins, proteins and fats crucial for their growth with King George’s Medical University (KGMU) setting up a human milk bank — the first such facility in the state — at its Trauma Centre The facility under construction at present and manpower recruitment being under way is likely to become functional by the end of January 2019.The university has been provided a budget of Rs 95 lakh for infrastructure and manpower for the first six months by the National Health Mission (NHM). More funds will follow as per requirement in later stages.Providing the natural feed than powdered milk which lacks naturally-produced anti-bodies by a lactating mother that give a child the ability to fight diseases, the milk bank will collect mother’s milk, test it to make sure it is free of any microbes, pasteurize and store it for at least three months.KGMU paediatrics department professor and in-charge of the upcoming milk bank, Prof Mala Kumar said, “The milk bank will be a centre of excellence which will be the first in our state. There are 57 such milk banks across the country. Here, we will scientifically store and test the milk, collected from consenting mothers. We will also counsel and encourage mothers for donation.”The facility will be for children undergoing treatment at KGMU initially and will later cater to more children requiring mother’s milk.“Around 30% of the children admitted to KGMU require mother’s milk, but are not able to get it, so we have to recommend powdered milk for them. These children will now be getting anti-body rich natural milk which will build their immunity.”Once the milk bank becomes operational, the administration will counsel lactating mothers visiting KGMU’s vaccination and neonatology clinics to donate. “The milk will be tested for safety. The entire history of the lactating mother will be noted,” said Prof Kumar.