Breast milk donations in Uganda saves preterm babies

A growing number of caregivers in Uganda are turning to breast milk donation to save the lives of premature and orphaned babies. - REUTERS

Transcript

00:00Premature babies in Uganda are getting a fresh chance at survival, with donated breast milk.

00:08A growing number of caregivers in Uganda are turning to these donations to save the lives of those born premature and left orphaned.

00:16Like Mercy Balibabwe's baby, who weighed just one kilogram, or about two pounds, when she was adopted.

00:23Then I started giving the baby the blessed miracle, and when the baby gained that 1.5,

00:30we were able to be discharged from Ragos Petro to go home.

00:36Prematurity remains the leading cause of death for children under five globally, and Uganda is no exception.

00:43For many of these infants, the lack of access to breast milk, especially when a mother is ill, absent, or unable to produce milk, can be fatal.

00:52To address this, Uganda's health system has turned to human milk banks.

00:57Neonatal doctor Victoria Nakibuka runs the country's largest facility, based in Kampala.

01:04We've been able to serve over 300 babies, and we've had over 500 donors.

01:11One of those enterprises working to make breast milk accessible is the ATA breast milk community.

01:17Since its launch in 2021, ATA has helped more than 650 infants across Uganda.

01:25All donors undergo strict screening for infections, such as HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis, and the milk is processed to ensure safety.

01:35The idea of shared breast milk remains culturally sensitive, and deep-rooted fears fuel resistance in parts of Uganda.

01:43But research by UNICEF shows that acceptance rose significantly when local health workers explained the purpose behind milk sharing.

01:52The main thing is proper education of the communities, and then some of these cultural barriers can be overcome.

01:59The Ugandan government is now taking steps to scale up the initiative, to meet rising demand for donated milk nationwide.

02:07For Balibabwe and her adopted daughter, breast milk sharing was not just a medical solution.

02:13It was a gift of survival.

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