Reserve calls for breastmilk donations
JOBURG - The South African Breastmilk Reserve is calling on mothers to donate breast milk to help address infant mortality and malnutrition.
According to the reserve, in South Africa one premature infant dies every 20 minutes. The breast milk reserve is currently the largest human-milk-banking partner of the South African Department of Health.
They warn that breastfeeding rates in South Africa are dangerously low with only 7.2 percent of South African women breastfeeding. The reserve believes that these low rates have resulted in the loss of 20 000 babies under 1.8kg and 70 000 babies under 5kg annually. The International Baby Food Action Network of Africa credits breastfeeding with being the single biggest influence in decreasing infant mortality and malnutrition, especially in developing countries.
The reserve is calling on mothers to donate breast milk at local breast milk banks to ensure that babies who do not have access to their mother’s milk get a chance of a healthy start to life.
Since 2003 the reserve has had 889 donors and supplied breast milk to 1 295 infants which has contributed to saving an average of 5 000 premature babies from infection and mortality associated with the lack of breastfeeding.
There are breast milk banks at Sandton Mediclinic, Netcare Olivedale clinic, Netcare Park Lane clinic in Parktown and the SABR head office in Braamfontein.
Details: 011 482 1920, info@sabr.org.za, www.sabr.org.za
