TAP supports 1st Human Milk Bank in Northern Greece
True to its commitment to the local communities it traverses, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is implementing social and environmental investments (SEI) that address actual needs.
As such, and in collaboration with the NGO Ilitominon, a significant donation has been finalised to the Hippokration General Hospital in Thessaloniki – the first hospital in Northern Greece to establish a Human Milk Bank, which is crucial for the well-being of premature or critically ill infants, while also supporting mothers who are having difficulties with breastfeeding.
TAP’s donation consists of special equipment for the needs of the Human Milk Bank, specifically a pasteuriser and a refrigerator, while Ilitominon is donating a freezer. All three are essential for the sterilisation and safekeeping of donor milk, which in turn has multiple benefits for newborns and infants – especially premature ones.
As stressed by the Administrative Chief of the Hospital, Vassiliki Papachristopoulou, and the Head and co-founder of Ilitominon, Lela Vavouraki: "It was important to establish a Human Milk Bank in Thessaloniki and especially at the Hippokration, where two neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) operate. Up to now, there has only been one such Bank available in Athens."
Consequently, the initiative is expected to cover the needs of Northern Greece, and particularly the premature babies hospitalised in the 6 NICUs of Thessaloniki and Alexandroupolis. The next step, according to the hospital authorities, is for the equipment to be delivered to the designated space. Following this, a campaign will be launched to attract donors to make their deposits to the Milk Bank, since "every drop helps!".