KZN Made by Mom campaign promotes donation of breast milk to reduce under-5 mortality rate
Donating breast milk can save an infant's life. Here’s where you can donate your breast milk in KwaZulu-Natal.
Statistics shared by UNICEF South Africa show that only 22% of babies in South Africa are exclusively breastfed in the first six months of their lives. This figure is below the global target of 70% by 2030.
Health experts recommend that children be fed exclusively breastmilk for the first six months of their lives and from the age of six months until two years old, mothers can continue to breastfeed their babies while adding age-appropriate solid foods.
Breastmilk is important because it offers the baby all the nutrients needed for them to develop.
Recently, the Caluza Clinic hosted an event where over 1000 mothers gathered to learn about the importance of breastfeeding.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health previously launched the Made by Mom campaign, which promotes breastfeeding among mothers.
The initiative also supports mothers who are unable to breastfeed their babies by encouraging members of the public who are able to donate breast milk to do so at some of the milk banks in the province.
"Made by Mom is a campaign launched by the KwaZulu Initiative for Breastfeeding Support (KIBS) to promote breast-feeding in order to reduce the high incidence of infant and under-5 mortality rate," states KZN Health website.
According to Netwerk24, "research also shows that breast milk dramatically increases an infant's chance of survival, protects against infections and serious complications, offers ideal nutrition, increases immunity and does not put added strain on an immature system".
In some instances, formular is not recommended.
Milk Matters Organization" states that artificial feeds do not offer the protection and healing benefits that breastmilk does and are actually an additional risk factor for very low birth weight, premature babies".
Why is donating breast milk important?
Sometimes, children are born in circumstances that require donated milk because they cannot receive milk from their mothers.
This includes children who are born prematurely, as the mother’s milk supply may not be enough to meet the baby's needs.
Other children who can benefit from donated breast milk include:
- Children born weighing between 1.5 kg and 2.5 kg.
- Children who suffer from severe food intolerances or allergies.
- Children recovering from surgery.
- Children who are ill or undergoing medical treatment.
- Children whose mothers are ill, undergoing medical treatment, or are unable to produce enough milk.
- Orphans or abandoned children who are still waiting to be placed.
All these children can rely on donated breast milk.
Who are the mothers eligible to donate?
Mothers who are eligible to donate breast milk are those who:
- live a healthy lifestyle
- do not smoke
- do not drink
- do not suffer from diseases that can jeopardise the health or quality of their breast milk.
According to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, all mothers have to undergo screening for HIV, syphilis, TB, and hepatitis B.
The breast milk is also tested to ensure that it is safe and healthy for babies.
If you are in KZN and surrounding areas, here’s a list of milk banks provided by the KZN Health:
- Addington hospital
- Bethesda hospital
- Dundee hospital
- Edendale hospital
- GJ Crookes hospital
- Grey's hospital
- King Edward VIII hospital
- Ladysmith hospital
- Lower Umfolozi War Memorial hospital
- Mahatma Gandhi Memorial hospital
- Murchison hospital
- Newcastle Hospital
- Port Shepstone hospital
- RK Khan hospital
- Stanger hospital
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