Kampala – The Ministry of Health has announced plans to establish human breast milk banks across the country to support vulnerable newborns who lack access to breast milk.
According to Daniel Kyabayinze, Director of Public Health, the banks will provide donor human milk to preterm and low-birth-weight infants, babies whose mothers have passed away, mothers with infectious diseases, and those in intensive care units.
Currently, there are three breast milk banks in Uganda, located in Nsambya, Nakasero, and Mbale hospitals.
“Our target is to roll out the establishment of human breast milk banks in phases across all national and regional referral hospitals, beginning with Kawempe and Mulago Specialized Women’s Hospitals,” said Dr Kyabayinze while officiating at an event to commemorate World Breastfeeding Week held at the Ministry headquarters in Kampala on Friday.
The event started with a march to create awareness about breastfeeding and mobilize resources to kick-start the establishment of breast milk banks throughout the country.
Commenting about the development, Action Against Hunger pledged to support the initiative by piloting a human breast milk bank project in Adjumani and Kiryandongo refugee settlements.
Ritah Kabanyoro, Country Director, emphasized the importance of breast milk for refugee children, saying, “We have seen children introduced to food as young as three months because the mother has no choice, has no breast milk. So yes, we are supporting the initiative of human breast milk banks, and we are going to pilot it in Adjumani and Kiryandongo refugee settlements within the next one year”
The ministry also highlighted the importance of supporting breastfeeding mothers in the workplace.
“As the Minister of Health, we recommend that workplaces should have at least a corner where mothers can go and feed their babies safely. This is because when we have a special place for mothers to breastfeed, this mother will work with all the confidence, not worry, but anytime the mother feels like she can go and breastfeed the baby at any time, while also being very productive at the workplace,” said Samali Namukose, Assistant Commissioner of the Nutrition Division at the Ministry of Health.
World Breastfeeding Week 2024 was held under the theme “Closing the Gap, Breastfeeding Support for All.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends early initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life and introduction of nutritionally-adequate and safe complementary solid foods at 6 months together with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond
Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months has many benefits for the infant and mother chief among these is protection against gastrointestinal infections which is observed not only in developing but also industrialized countries Early initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth protects the newborn from acquiring infections and reduces newborn mortality.