Page 14 - Boca ViewPointe- July '24

Page 14, Viewpointe July 2024
Magen David Adom

UPDATE/Israel’s national
milk bank running dry

By Leslie Viselman

Dear Friends,
After pouring in following
October 7, critical human
milk donations now run dry
in Israel.
Director of Israel’s Thawing and rotating donated human milk inside a laminar Taking human milk samples for microbiological tests and
national bank says the chamber at the Sussman Family Foundation Human Milk nutritional profiling at the Sussman Family Foundation
country could be short thousands of liters of breast milk Bank at the Magen David Adom Marcus National Blood Human Milk Bank at the Magen David Adom Marcus
should full-scale war break out with Hezbollah in the north. Services Center, Ramle. (Courtesy) National Blood Services Center, Ramle. (Courtesy)

“These freezers are something special that we have. We While Bransburg-Zabary understands the new mothers’
also use special vacuum pumps so that there are no debris situation, she is determined to replenish the bank’s coffers
or leftovers on the glass containers we use,” Bransburg- of what she calls “white gold.”
Zabary said. There has been much speculation about electricity being
Before the war, the bank produced between 160 and cut off to large parts of the country should the conflict with
170 liters per day for use in hospital settings and kept 400 Hezbollah in the north escalate. In such an event, many bags
liters as an emergency reserve. Soon after October 7, the of frozen human milk in home freezers would thaw and spoil
output tripled. before MDA crews could reach them.
“We tripled the amount of milk collection through the For this reason, Bransburg-Zabary encourages more
increase in the number of donors and more than tripled the lactating women to donate their milk and arrange for it to
number of recipients,” Bransburg-Zabary noted. be brought promptly to the milk bank, where it can remain
Processing donated human milk at the Sussman Family But keeping donors motivated has been a challenge, safely frozen thanks to backup electrical systems.
Foundation Human Milk Bank at the Magen David Adom especially while they are holding down the fort at home and If you have family or friends in Israel, please share this
Marcus National Blood Services Center, Ramle. (Courtesy) their partners are fighting on the front lines. timely appeal with them. If you are visiting Israel and would
“It is very difficult for women to express surplus milk and like to learn more or are interested in becoming involved
Hundreds of paper hearts and stars adorn the walls of the to actually donate it. It is hard to find the time and energy when locally, please reach out to Yishai Mizrahi or Leslie Viselman,
Sussman Family Foundation Human Milk Bank. On each is their partners are away in the army. The economic conditions Area Directors, for AFMDA at 561.835.0510 or via email at
the name of a woman who donated breast milk for babies are also very troubling for new moms, and don’t forget that Boca-Delray@afmda.org.
other than her own. they are not being paid for their donations. Overall, the entire Your dedication is immeasurable, and we are forever
These paper hearts and stars exploded in number atmosphere is very dark,” Bransburg-Zabary lamented. grateful. Am Yisrael Chai. 
immediately after October 7, when many infants no longer
had access to human milk because their mothers had been B’H
murdered, wounded, taken captive to Gaza or called up for Sabra Wall Decor
reserve military duty.
Thanks to a flood of donations, the milk bank has so far
provided around two tons of human milk to these babies. EstimatEs
However, donations have largely dried up as the war
has dragged on, and most of those babies — eligible for the
donated milk for only six months — have been shifted to Painting & More ...
formula or cow’s milk.
“We still have some reserves, but I am somewhat
worried about the future. If there is a major second phase • Popcorn Ceiling • Wallpaper Removal
to the war and a need for thousands of more liters, there
will be problems,” said the bank’s director, Dr. Sharron • Knock Down
Bransburg-Zabary. • Drywall Repair
Housed at Magen David Adom’s Marcus National
Blood Services Center in Ramle, the bank is Israel’s Cell: (954) 931-4716 Licensed & Insured
national and sole repository and processing center for Office: (561) 395-3057 CC: 03-11120-P-K
human milk.
Before the war, the donated milk processed was only
for premature or sick infants in hospitals. Following
October 7, the Health Ministry instructed the bank to
assume emergency mode. This meant not only stepping up
production but also being in contact directly with recipient
families for the first time and making home deliveries.
Having recently moved into the newly opened National
Blood Services Center, the bank and its small staff were Operating as
up to the task.
“This milk bank is a more advanced facility than in
other places. Usually [a milk bank] is a room in a hospital.
Here we designed a facility that is highly oriented toward
quality and not just safety,” Bransburg-Zabary said.
The first and impossible-to-miss sign of this is the
yellow light bathing the laboratory area where the milk is Complimentary first office visit
tested, processed and stored. Bransburg-Zabary explained
that yellow filters are used to eliminate blue wavelengths AND
that can destroy the vitamins in the milk. Lab technicians $ .00
use amber-colored glass containers for the same reason. 5 off your first grooming and spa day
The bank can pasteurize expressed milk that was frozen
in proper conditions (-20 degrees Celsius) in a woman’s
home. After processing, the milk can be stored for three
to six months in special -80 degrees Celsius freezers at
the bank. Healthy Pet Foods • Gourmet Baked Goods • Toys, Treats & Accessories

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