KZN Health Dept opens new Human Milk Bank

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health is stepping up the establishment of Human Milk Banks in its effort “to address childhood malnutrition and reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality”.

The provincial Health MEC‚ Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo‚ said that “no baby should be left vulnerable to illness just because their mother cannot breastfeed”‚ at Monday’s official opening of the latest Human Milk Bank‚ at the “mother-and-child-friendly” Lower Umfolozi War Memorial Hospital in Empangeni.

“As a department we firmly believe that an investment in the health of children is an investment in the future of the nation‚” said Dhlomo.

“We have committed to do everything possible to provide all necessary help for the babies in their first 1000 days of life. Optimal nutrition during this period is critical to ensure optimal child health‚ growth and development.

“Research has proven that breastmilk is the perfect living food for infants as it meets the baby’s nutritional needs. It further provides immunological and anti-infective factors that protect the baby against infections.”

 Empangeni is the seventh bank to be opened and joins the department’s facilities at Stanger Hospital‚ Grey’s Hospital‚ Edendale Hospital‚ Newcastle Hospital‚ King Edward VIII Hospital and the Community Human Milk Bank at Ithemba Lethu in eThekwini.

“We also take into cognisance the fact that premature infants are generally deprived of breastmilk due to factors such as: shortage of rooming-in facilities for mothers; maternal deaths during birth; mothers being too ill to lactate‚ and so on.”

The Lower Umfolozi War Memorial Hospital is suited for the department’s needs as it is “a mother and child hospital‚ delivers an average of 10 000 babies annually and has a 92-bedded neonatal unit that is normally utilised at full capacity”.

“Our objective is to ensure that no infant goes without the life giving and nourishing breast milk just because the biological mother is not there or in a position not to do so.”