Pumwani milk bank breathes life into pre-term and abandoned babies

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) over 820,000 infant lives could be saved annually if all children aged 0–23 months were optimally breastfed.

The generosity of breast milk donors has provided these infants with the essential nutrition they need, while also offering relief to mothers who produce excessive milk and helping to reduce their risk of mastitis- a condition caused by excessive breast milk production that can lead to on infection of the breast tissue.

WHO recommends breast milk as the ideal food for infants, delivering all the necessary energy and nutrients during the first months of life. It is safe, clean, and contains antibodies that protect against common childhood illnesses.

Faith Njeru, the lead nurse at the Human Milk Bank within the Infant Nursing Unit at the hospital, explains the rigorous process that donors undergo. 

“Before milk from a donor is accepted, it is thoroughly screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and Syphilis, along with other drug tests to ensure its safety. Once cleared, the milk is carefully expressed, pasteurized, and stored,” she explains.

In addition to serving abandoned infants and mothers who struggle with insufficient milk production, Njeru outlines the criteria used to prioritize recipients. 

“Our first priority is preterm infants in critical condition, followed by those who are stable, term babies who are unwell, and then abandoned infants or those whose mothers cannot produce enough milk,” she says.

Njeru adds that properly pasteurized, refrigerated, and stored donor breast milk can be used for up to six months.

Sharon Muiruri, a nutritionist at the Newborn Unit, emphasizes that the nutritional value of breast milk is consistent across different mothers. 

“The nutritional content of breast milk is quite similar from one healthy mother to another, ensuring that infants receiving donated milk get the same vital nutrients,” she says.

Muiruri notes that the milk bank has not only provided critical support to infants but has also alleviated the issue of excessive milk production among mothers, leading to a reduction in cases of mastitis at the hospital.

She calls on other county governments to establish similar milk banking stations to support lactation across the country.

“It is satisfying to see the benefits reaped from this milk bank here at Pumwani Hospital. I encourage the creation of more such stations throughout the country,” she adds.