Paraguay’s Ministry of Public Health announced that the General Hospital of Itapúa will soon open its first Mother’s Milk Bank. The announcement took place during Minister María Teresa Barán’s visit to the hospital in the city of Encarnación.
The initiative aims to improve infant health across the department by collecting and safely processing donated breast milk. The service will benefit newborns who cannot be breastfed by their mothers, ensuring they receive essential nutrition for their early development.
A new resource for infant health in Itapúa
The creation of the Mother’s Milk Bank marks a major milestone for neonatal care in southern Paraguay. Teresa Barán’s visit, according to the Ministry, underscores the government’s commitment to broadening access to safe breast milk for the infants who need it most.
A Mother’s Milk Bank collects, screens, and pasteurises breast milk donated by volunteer mothers. This processed milk is then provided to babies who cannot be breastfed by their own mothers, due to medical or circumstantial reasons. The service is vital for premature infants, babies with health complications, and also for families formed through adoption.
A key supplier of safe breast milk
Paediatrician Gabriela Núñez emphasised the broader reach the new centre will have once operational. “We are going to have a Breast Milk Bank. Where we will also be able to process, pasteurise, and donate to other districts in the department of Itapúa.” This regional project positions the Itapúa hospital as a key supplier of safe breast milk beyond Encarnación.
The value of milk donation is already visible in the hospital’s daily work. One mother, Yeri Ruiz Díaz, shared how donation made a difference for her child.
“The first few days, my baby was able to be fed through the milk donation we acquired here, because I was still hospitalised, and I am very grateful, and today I am also a donor,” she said. Her story reflects the cycle of generosity that the new Milk Bank hopes to expand.
Beyond the Milk Bank: Inclusive support services
The General Hospital of Itapúa continues to strengthen patient support through its sign-language interpreter service. Available from Monday to Friday, from 07:00 to 15:00, the service assists people with hearing disabilities who require communication support during medical consultations. This initiative reinforces the hospital’s goal of making healthcare accessible to all.
A hospital built for regional impact
The General Hospital of Itapúa is already considered a cornerstone of public healthcare in the south. Named “Ladislao Hrisuk Szuljew” in honour of the family that donated its more than 50-hectare site, with over 44,000 m² of infrastructure and capacity to attend 2,000 people daily, the hospital was designed to meet regional needs.
The facility includes 160 inpatient beds, 72 intensive care beds for neonatal, paediatric and adult patients, 70 emergency beds, 20 dialysis units and 18 chemotherapy chairs. The hospital also features 13 operating theatres and 85 consulting rooms distributed across four sections. With nine main blocks and two dedicated buildings for families and medical residents, the complex is positioned to transform healthcare services in the department.
As Itapúa prepares to launch its first Mother’s Milk Bank, the region moves closer to ensuring equitable, life-saving support for its youngest and most vulnerable residents.
