NEW BREAST MILK BANK OPENED IN UGANDA’S KAMPALA

Tue 16 November 2021:

In Uganda, a breast milk bank has been established to assist premature babies and moms suffering with insufficient milk supply.

The Saint Francis Nsambya Hospital on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda’s capital, is supported by the country’s Health Ministry.

Women have expressed an interest in the first-of-its-kind institution.

“I am very happy about the development. It will go a long way in saving lives of our babies,” said Dorothy Kituyi, a mother of three children.

Dr. Victoria Nakibuuka , a specialist in child diseases, said: “87% of women in Uganda have welcomed the establishment of the breast milk bank and said they are willing to donate their breast milk.”

She believes that donating and storing breast milk is important to save newborns’ lives.

It also benefits babies whose mothers died during childbirth, according to her.

According to Dr. Richard Mugahi of the Health Ministry, 180,000 babies are born prematurely in the country each year.

The World Health Organisation recommends that children born with very low birth weight less than 2.5Kgs who are estimated at 20million worldwide be initiated on human breast milk immediately to boast their immunity and avoid retarded growth.

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