WeeklySA_AdminINTERVENTION: Celebrating this vital source of nutrition, South Africa and the rest of the global community join forces to highlight its life-saving role for premature and critically ill babies…
By WSAM Reporter
The South African Breastmilk Reserve (SABR), in partnership with the University of Pretoria hosted a special event in celebration of the International Breastmilk Donation Day – globally recognised on May 19.
Studies show that breastmilk has dynamic bioactive components that can significantly reduce infant mortality from conditions like Necrotising Enterocolitis, a serious gastrointestinal problem predominantly seen in premature infants.
This event, spearheaded by the university’s department of pharmacology, highlighted the critical, life-saving role of breastmilk donation, particularly for the most vulnerable in society: premature and critically ill infants.
Breastmilk is recognised as a unique medical intervention that has significant health benefits, not only nourishing but also protecting infants against a myriad of health conditions.
“Breastmilk is a vital source of nutrition and also serves as a first line of medicinal aid for newborns,” says Stasa Jordan, executive director of SABR.
This year’s theme emphasises the pivotal role that breastfeeding and human milk banking serve in public health interventions aimed at reducing infant mortality rates. In South Africa, these efforts are critically important as the country battles high rates of maternal health issues including HIV, hypertension, and malnutrition, which profoundly impact infant survival and health.
The collaboration between the two entities has facilitated ground-breaking research into the pharmacokinetics of medications like Sulpiride when passed through breastmilk, crucial for understanding its impacts on infants.
“By establishing a research-dedicated freezer at the University, we aim to expand our knowledge on how various medications can affect breastfed babies, ensuring that our interventions remain both safe and effective,” says Professor Natalie Schellack, dead of the department pharmacology.
To mark this significant day, the university’s School of Health Sciences hosted an information stall in its courtyard last week, aimed at educating future healthcare professionals about the critical role of human milk banking.
The World Health Organization notes that nearly one million infant lives could be saved annually through optimal breastfeeding practices. This is particularly relevant under UN resolution 25, which highlights the importance of breastfeeding promotion in developing countries where breastfeeding becomes not just a nutritional but also a food security issue during crises.
In supporting the practice, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) has said its backing of breastfeeding was based on extensive and resounding evidence that breastfeeding saves lives, improves health and cuts costs in every country worldwide. Breastfeeding protected children from a vast range of illnesses, including infection, diabetes, asthma, heart disease and obesity, as well as cot death (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
In addition, Unicef said breastfeeding also protected mothers from breast and ovarian cancers and heart disease, including building the mother-baby relationship and the mental health of both individuals.
‘’Sensitising student health care professionals to the lifesaving value of breastfeeding is the first step towards saving lives at the beginning of the life cycle’’ says Professor Natalie Schellack.
The SABR’s efforts extend beyond just collection and distribution. Their “So Safe” breastmilk pasteuriser, a result of local innovation, ensures that donated breastmilk retains its quality while being safe for infant consumption. This technology is crucial in making human milk banking accessible and sustainable, especially in low-income settings.
The SABR and its partners have reaffirmed their commitment to improving the health outcomes of South Africa’s newborns through research, technology, and the life-giving benefits of donated breastmilk.
Since its inception in 2003, the SABR has been focused on premature babies especially and the value that breastfeeding and donated breastmilk (DBM) contribute towards reducing infant mortality and morbidity at the start of “the Human Development Chain”.
However, says the SARB, the health of an infant cannot be viewed in isolation. It is important to consider the broader health services that need to be made available to pregnant women and their children under five.
Since 2015, the SARB has expanded its mandate to embrace a life-cycle approach to infant health and survival, looking at breastfeeding in the context of early childhood development and not only as a clinical solution to premature morbidity and mortality at hospital level. Ante-natal health, HIV prevention and treatment, immunisation, family planning and breastfeeding support are some of the corner-stones that support better health outcomes for children once they leave hospital after birth and return to their communities.
In its 18 years of experience, the organisation is credited with:
· Pioneering a human milk-banking model in South Africa;
· Developing breastmilk pasteurisers to minimise pathogens and maximise nutrition in local African conditions;
· Developing a sustainable and replicable, cost-recovery business model for non-profit, human milk banking; and
· Developing essential systems for remote monitoring and tracking of DBM supplies using customised IT technology.
In South Africa alone, eight in 100 babies are born prematurely and 11 000 premature babies die from preventable infections and complications every year, at considerable cost to the healthcare system and with far-reaching implications for socio-economic development, according to the SARB.
Despite evidence of its benefits, global breastfeeding rates have increased very little over the past two decades while baby formula sales have nearly doubled, reaching nearly R1 trillion ($55.6 billion) in 2019, amid misleading marketing strategies that the authors say undermine breastfeeding, according to CNN.
For more information, to participate in milk donation, or to support our cause, please visit https://www.sabr.org.za/
