Benton hospital opens milk bank to benefit Arkansas infants

BENTON, Ark. – A hospital in Benton is opening a resource to provide milk for sick and vulnerable infants throughout Arkansas.

Officials with the Saline Memorial Hospital said in a Friday release it was opening a milk bank in support of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Milk Bank program.

Hospital officials said a space is being designated for women to donate milk that will be forwarded to the UAMS bank for screening, pasteurization and nutritional analysis. Once the milk is processed into the UAMS bank, it will be sent to hospitals throughout Arkansas according to need.

Officials said the Benton milk bank is the first facility of its kind in the state to supply donor milk to infants in need, including those in intensive care units. They anticipate this will improve babies' outcomes.