Since its launch in 2011, the Dutch Milk Bank has donated over 8,000 liters of donor milk to premature babies whose mothers have insufficient milk. Pediatrician-neonatologist Chris van den Akker, affiliated with our research institute, emphasizes, "For these children, donor milk is vital; it significantly improves their chances of survival by reducing the risk of serious infections."
Currently, the Milk Bank supports all 9 NICUs in the Netherlands, with 30 to 40 active donors contributing nearly 1,000 liters of milk annually. Van den Akker notes, "Thanks to our donors, we estimate that nearly 10,000 premature infants in the Netherlands have benefited from this vital resource."
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