The Foundation of Royal and Women’s Hospital Queensland hopes to roll out this lifesaving initiative throughout 22 of Queensland’s Private and Public Hospitals across the State.
According to the Queensland Milk Bank website, Breast milk increases the survival rate in premature babies by 70 per cent. Some mothers may have difficulty breastfeeding due to low supply of milk or maternal illness and are unable to nourish their sick newborns.
Donor milk from over 400 generous women has assisted new mums overcome these obstacles and has improved the outcomes of over 1,400 preterm babies.
“We are delighted to support such a worthy cause in the Toowoomba area and hope the Upright Freezer Cabinet can offer a greater chance of survival to premature babies and comfort to their parents at a difficult time,” the chairman of The Honda Foundation, Mr. Stephen Collins, said.
The Queensland Milk Bank recently celebrated its fifth year of service and it is the largest of its kind in Australia.
“Some mothers have lost their own babies and give during a period of great loss, while other mums have used this service and want to give back,” the RBWH Director of Neonatology , Dr Pieter Koorts, said. “I can’t overstate how important your gift is to us and so many families around the State.”
The Honda Foundation aims to assist local communities at a grassroots level. For every new Honda vehicle sold in Australia, the dealership donates $5 and Honda Australia donates $10 taking the total to $15.
Last year Honda Australia sold 46,783 vehicles, so each donation provides strong support for The Honda Foundation.
More than $10 million has been donated to hundreds of worthy causes, including empowering disadvantaged Australians, providing relief for victims of natural disasters and supporting the development of new technologies and research to fight disease.
In QLD alone, The Honda Foundation has donated over $1.7 million since inception, 26 years ago.