Donate Milk
Why Donate Milk?
The first 28 days of life (the neonatal period) is critical time for survival of the child. Every day in Nigeria, about 700 babies die (around 30 every hour). This is the highest number of newborn deaths in Africa and third highest in the World. Premature and sick babies are especially vulnerable.
Of all the known approaches, human milk has the greatest potential impact on child survival. A mother’s breast milk provides the optimal nutrition for growing infants. Unfortunately, some infants do not have access to their mother’s own milk (MOM), leaving them particularly vulnerable. With Pasteurised Donor Human Milk available for infants, it will go a very long way to reducing neonatal mortality in Nigeria.
Donor milk provides life-saving nutrition and immune protection. Your extra milk can literally be the difference between life and death.
When you donate to Milk Bank Nigeria, you are giving fragile babies:
- Protection against deadly infections
- The nutrients they need to grow stronger
- A fighting chance at survival
Who Can Donate?
You may qualify if you:
- Are a healthy, non-smoking mother
- Do not use recreational drugs
- Are willing to complete a medical history & blood test
- Can freeze & transport expressed milk
You cannot donate if:
- You test positive for HIV, Hepatitis B/C, Syphilis or HTLV
- You have recently received an organ transplant, tissue transplant or a blood transfusion in the last four months
- You or your sexual partner is at risk for HIV
- You use illegal drugs
- You smoke or use tobacco products including nicotine patches or nicotine gum, electric cigarette
- You regularly consume more than two alcoholic drinks per day
Steps to Become a Donor
- Pre-Screening:
Complete our quick online form. Once we get these answers and confirm that you qualify to donate breast milk, you will get a call from our Donor intake representative - Paperwork: Fill in a medical history questionnaire & consent form
- Blood Test: Take a free screening test at our partner lab
- Donate: Once approved, you can donate frozen milk
Donor FAQs
See the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from Breast Milk Donors below.
NOTE: Click on the Plus (+) Sign beside each question to reveal their answers.
Human milk is lifesaving medicine for premature babies, sick babies and babies who do not have access to their mum’s own milk. Access to donor milk allows babies who can’t breast feed get all the nutrients and unique benefits of human milk.
Before filling out the forms, we require donors to have a minimum of 70 bags (each > 100ml) of milk if they are within Lagos and 100 bags of milk if they are outside Lagos.
We only accept frozen breast milk that has previously been stored in freezers.
No, it’s a voluntary gift. Donors do not receive any payment for their donation. We however give recurring donors storage bags.
Donors may send us frozen breast milk that is within the acceptable age range and free of restricted medications after the screening process.
Approved donors are allowed to donate for as long as they wish regardless of the age of their baby.
If you’ve been recording the date pumped on your storage containers, we can accept milk that has already been pumped.
There are financial costs for all of the safety measures (blood screening, pre and post-pasteurisation screening) that help turn gifts of milk into medicine for fragile babies. We charge a service fee to help cover these costly steps.
The milk bank would make arrangements to collect the milk from you.
We would love to answer your questions about becoming a milk donor. If your question isn’t listed above, please send an email or call us on +2347079164739.
Do You Want to Donate Your Breast Milk?
Please Click on the Link Below to Fill Our Pre-Screening Form.