Uganda Plans to Establish Human Milk Banks

By: Modupe Adeniyi. Freelance Health Reporter.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2024. Uganda's Ministry of Health is taking a significant step towards improving infant nutrition by planning to establish human milk banks across the country. According to Laura Ahumuza Turinawe, a senior nutritionist at the Ministry of Health, the initiative requires approximately Shs600 million to kickstart the process.

The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of this year's Breastfeeding Week at the ministry's headquarters in Kampala. Ms. Ahumuza explained that the establishment of breast milk banks would be implemented in phases, with Kawempe National Referral Hospital and Mulago Women's Hospital slated to be the first beneficiaries by the end of next year.

The funds will be utilized for various purposes, including creating public awareness, training health workers on supporting mothers who donate or use donated breast milk and implementing risk communication strategies. Ms. Ahumuza emphasized the importance of safety measures, stating, "Before the milk is given to the baby, there are checks that we do to ensure safety. We test for diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B."

The primary objective of this initiative is to provide human milk to infants who are unable to breastfeed directly. This includes premature babies, severely ill infants, those with low birth weight and orphans. Ms. Ahumuza highlighted the importance of human milk for proper growth and development in these vulnerable groups.

Support for the initiative has come from various quarters. Ritah Kabanjoro, the country director of Action Against Hunger, endorsed the idea, emphasizing its potential to benefit orphans and refugee children. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Health Minister, underscored the importance of breastfeeding for both mother and child. In a speech read on her behalf, she stated, "Breast milk contains antibodies that protect babies from infections and diseases, reduces the risk of childhood illnesses and mortality, strengthens the bond between the mother and the baby."

Dr. Aceng also pointed out the health benefits for mothers who breastfeed, including a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

The call for collaborative efforts in promoting breastfeeding was echoed by Dr. Munir Safieldin, the UNICEF Country Representative. He stressed the need for designated areas and time for breastfeeding, particularly in workplaces, to improve breastfeeding indicators.

Uganda has made significant progress in promoting breastfeeding. Samalie Namusoke, the assistant commissioner-in-charge of nutrition in the Ministry of Health, reported that early initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of birth stands at 82 percent, while exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months has reached 87 percent.

As the Ministry of Health moves forward with this ambitious plan, it aims to extend the initiative to all regional referral hospitals within five years, potentially revolutionizing infant nutrition and care across Uganda.

Source: Daily Monitor News.

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Published: SEPTEMBER 2, 2024

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