Project MOTHER'S MILK BANK

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become an integral part of modern business practice, representing a commitment to ethical conduct, environmental stewardship, and social well-being. As the world faces complex challenges such as climate change, social inequality, and resource depletion, companies are increasingly recognizing their role in fostering positive change. Our company's CSR initiatives embody this commitment, striving to balance economic growth with a profound responsibility towards society and the planet.

We believe that CSR is not just about compliance or philanthropy; it is about integrating social and environmental considerations into every aspect of our business. By supporting community development and fostering innovation, our CSR initiatives are designed to make a tangible difference.

As a responsible organisation, we acknowledge our responsibility to build stronger communities and contribute to their holistic growth. Following the Triple Bottom Line approach, we seek ways to uplift local communities economically and socially.

Through our initiatives, we strive to create opportunities that enhance livelihoods, empower individuals and foster self-reliance. Additionally, we are committed to nurturing our bonds with the communities we serve. This helps us to not only understand their unique needs, but also collaborate to develop sustainable solutions for their long term prosperity.

The MOTHER'S MILK BANK project is dedicated to providing lifesaving breast milk to infants in need. We believe that every baby deserves the best start in life, and breast milk offers unparalleled nutritional and immunological benefits. By supporting this initiative, we are helping vulnerable infants thrive and giving mothers the opportunity to support each other.

ABOUT ROTARY CLUB (SOCIETY) OF BHAVNAGAR

Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 118 years, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, They are always working to better world, and they stay committed to the end. Rotary members believe that They have a shared responsibility to take action on our world's most persistent issues.

Rotary Club of Bhavnagar is one of the oldest, largest & most active clubs of Rotary Dist.3060 having more than 150 members coming from various professions. Rotary Club of Bhavnagar has set an unprecedented history of serving the society at large through its unique service projects since last 78 years. With "Service Above Self" as motto, the club has contributed a lot towards the development of the society and the upliftment of socially & economically deprived ones. clubs work together to: Promote peace, Fight disease, Provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, Save mothers and children, Support education, Grow local economies, Protect the environment

Background of project executed

Rotary Amrutalaya - A Mother's Milk Bank is a novel concept in the care of new born children. This is the first of its kind in entire Saurashtra region in the state of Gujarat. It is running with state of the art equipments.

Due to changing social circumstances, rate of infertility in India is very rapidly increasing. So is the increase in the rate of pregnancy by IVF treatment. It leads to more umber of premature births and more number of neonates are admitted in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). Those mothers having premature delivery have problem with lactation. Hence, their children are devoid of mother's milk. This leads to prolonged recovery time in the NICU as the immunity gained from mother's milk is not there, hence longer duration of hospital stay, higher rate of death and more financial burden on the family.

Simultaneously, there is increasing number of lactation failure even in the females with full term delivery. Thus, there is huge requirement of mother's milk. As blood can be obtained from donors and stored in the blood bank and can be given to those who need it, similarly, mothers milk can also be obtained from other lactating females, stored scientifically in the milk bank and can be given to those who need it. If we donate blood, it doesn't affect our body. Similarly, if a mother donates milk, that will not affect feeding to her baby or shortage of milk to her baby

Objectives of CSR Project

• The goal is to improve the health outcomes of vulnerable infants while fostering a sense of community involvement and support.
• It will help a lot in decreasing new born death rate, shorten their hospital stay and thus reduce financial burden on the family.
• At present approximately 200 pre- mature deliveries per month in Bhavnagar District of which there approximately 10% death rate (approx. 20 deaths per month). This leads to 250 deaths of pre mature babies per year. Large number of these deaths can be prevented if they are provided mothers milk.
Establishing a human milk bank has a positive impact on the health of vulnerable infants, providing them with essential nutrients, antibodies, and other bioactive factors crucial for their development and well-being.

In gist, Insufficiency of breast milk is very common nowadays and the incidence is increasing rapidly. There are a number of reasons for it. Children born prematurely with low birth weight are kept in NICU. Mothers milk can do wonders for them. If these kids are given powder milk, it can lead to indigestion, infection, allergy and malnutrition, leading to many complications including death. If these kids are given mother's milk, they recover fast, gain weight and it shortens NICU stay. Any healthy mother can donate her milk as the natural milk production is always in excess as compared to the need of her child. In fact by donating excess milk, it can avoid breast engorgement and infective complications.

Targeted group of the project & Beneficiaries

• Pre-maturely born neonates where their mothers are not capable for lactating them.
• Neonates born at full term but their mothers are having lactation failure.

Geographical area of execution of project and reason for selecting that area

Rotary Amrutalay – A Mother's Milk Bank has been executed at Ghevariya Hospital, Panvadi, Bhavnagar. The reason for selecting the area is that it is located in the center of the city, with the proximity of NICUs, multispecialty hospitals as well as public transport facilities, railway station and bus station which would be easy to reach if traveling across Bhavnagar district, city and other districts in Gujarat.

Monitoring Mechanism

All member mentioned by the ROTARY CLUB (SOCIETY) OF BHAVNAGAR will visit and supervise the site everyday. Project overall will be look after by the president of ROTARY CLUB (SOCIETY) OF BHAVNAGAR. Report will be submitted as and whenever demanded by the Company.

Sustainability Plan

As Human milk bank is a long-term commitment. Sustainable funding, ongoing community engagement, and a commitment to continuous improvement contribute to the long-term success and impact of the milk bank, once the project is executed and all the infrastructure and equipment's are set up the recurring expenses will be borne by Rotary Club Society of Bhavnagar. Further, they will engage experienced and skilled Administrator, Qualified Nursing staff, Female Health worker, Pathology laboratory, etc.

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