TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte (PIA) — The Human Milk Donation Program (HMDP) of the Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) in the city of Tagum, is expected to be replicated in hospitals run by the Department of Health (DOH).
In the February episode of the Kapihan sa DavNor, HMDP coordinator, DRMC Health Education Promotion Officer and registered nurse Agnes Catoera revealed that DRMC is in the process of crafting the Manual of Operations of the program in anticipation of interests to replicate it.
“All over the Philippine naa jud problema unsaon pagkuha ug gatas, unsaon pag-sustain sa gatas for babies sa NICU (All over the Philippines, there really is a problem of generating milk to sustain the feeding of babies at the NICU),” said Catoera referring to neonatal babies admitted in the intensive care units referred to as NICU babies.
Catoera revealed that the Human Milk Donation Program of DRMC was born out of 20 years of finding ways to sustainably provide breast milk for the admitted neonatal babies in critical condition, who mostly are premature.
DRMC used to generate breastmilk to feed the NICU babies from DRMC admitted postpartum or lactating mothers screened to donate their extra milk for the NICU babies.
The number of NICU babies have increased over the years reaching an average of about 70 babies per day, staying at the DRMC ICU in a period ranging from one to three months.
This has driven DRMC to take the initiative of reaching out to the communities in partnership with local government units (LGUs) to generate the needed volume of breast milk.
“Asa mi kuha ug gatas (Where shall we get milk)? Mao nga na-initiate ang Human Milk Donation Program. Sa among pag study nakita namo nga ang human milk daghan sa community (Based on our study, we have found rich supply of human milk abound in communities,” she said.
Catoera estimated each NICU baby to consume 30 cubic centimeters or 30 milliliters per feeding thrice a day.
In 2023, DRMC signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with 11 LGUs in Davao del Norte in support of the Human Milk Donation Program, after which DRMC conducted training for barangay health workers (BHWs) and Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) on how to collect milk from mothers who have given birth at DRMC.
“After ta nag launch sa Human Milk Donation Program wala na ta nakulangan ug gatas sa NICU (After we launch the Human Milk Donation Program, we no longer lack supply of milk in the NICU),” she said.
As of February 2025, Catoera said that DRMC has an inventory of 300 bottles of pasteurized breast milk at 250 cc per bottle. It also has a stock of raw or unpasteurized volume calculated to reach about 200 bottles.
Meanwhile, Catoera said the Human Milk Donation Program of DRMC for the moment, can only cover babies at the ICU of DRMC and those in ICUs of other hospitals in Davao del Norte.
Parents with babies in ICU can seek endorsement of their request from respective city or municipal health officers to avail of the pasteurized breast milk of DRMC.
“Once the DRMC naay human milk bank, possible maka send n times of disaster (If there is a human milk bank, we can possibly send milk in times of disaster),” Catoera said responding to query on possible provision of human milk for babies in disaster situation. (JMDA/ PIA XI)
