Cyprus has opened its first National Human Milk Bank. This is an important step for children's healthcare. The bank is at the Archbishop Makarios III Hospital. It will provide safe, donated breast milk to the smallest and sickest newborns who need it.
This new bank solves a big problem. For babies born very early or with health issues, their mother's milk is the best medicine. It helps protect them from illness and helps them grow strong. But sometimes, after a difficult birth, a mother cannot produce milk right away. Until now, Cyprus did not have a formal system to help these families.
The project is a key part of Cyprus's new national plan to support breastfeeding from 2024 to 2027. The Health Minister strongly supports it. A charity called "Thermokitida Agapis" (Incubator of Love) provided the money to start the bank and will help it run. The charity says, "Every baby deserves the best possible start," and that "Every drop of love counts."
Doctors will run the milk bank with very strict safety rules. They will carefully check, heat-treat, and store all donated milk. This makes sure it is safe and healthy for the babies.
Doctors are very happy about this new bank. They say it is a major change for healthcare in Cyprus and helps families during a very stressful time. It also shows how the government and charities can work together for public health. This milk bank is a symbol of the country's care for its most vulnerable citizens.