Freeman Hospital officially launches new Milk Bank

JOPLIN, MO – July 17, 2021 – The NeoNatal Intensive Care Unit at Joplin’s Freeman Hospital officially launched a new breast Milk Bank today.

“Donor milk is especially geared to be given to fragile, very premature, very sick babies,” says Freeman NICU physician Dr. Kamal Garung.

He says the donated milk is the best possible food for the preemies.

“It has been found that breast milk, as compared to formula, significantly reduces the amount of infection, the allergy component, inflammation and perforation that is very common in the premature population,” Dr. Garung says.

The donated milk comes from a central Milk Bank located at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City.

Freeman received its first shipment of the milk from the Kansas City today.