Donating breast milk can help increase the production of food for the donor’s own childElza Fiúza/Agência Brasil
Published 05/06/2024 21:22
Donation of human milk for newborns increased by 8% in 2023, compared to the previous year, the largest increase recorded in the last five years. Between January and December, 253 thousand liters of human milk were donated, benefiting 225,762 newborns. The data was released this Monday (6) by the Ministry of Health, during the launch of the Donate Breast Milk – Life in Every Drop Received campaign.
The goal for 2024 is to increase the supply of breast milk to newborns admitted to the country’s neonatal units by 5%.
“This increase is important so that more and more newborns benefit. Currently, only 55% of premature or low birth weight babies receive milk from the Human Milk Bank”, highlighted the coordinator of Child and Adolescent Health Care at the Ministry of Health, Sônia Venâncio.
The human milk donation campaign is carried out annually by the Ministry of Health, in partnership with the Global Network of Human Milk Banks, through Fiocruz, with the aim of highlighting the importance of breast milk donation and increasing the number of donors and breast milk stocks in milk banks. The campaign marks World Human Milk Donation Day, on May 19th.
According to the Ministry of Health, Brazil has the largest and most complex network of human milk banks in the world. There are 231 banks in all states and 240 collection points.
The ambassador of Brazil’s milk banks, actress Maria Paula Fidalgo, highlighted the benefits of breastfeeding and donating milk. “When a woman gives birth and gives milk to that baby, along with the milk she is giving love, care, and is forming an entire healthier psyche in addition to all the benefits for the immune system.”
Human milk is capable of reducing the mortality of children under five years of age from preventable causes by up to 13%.
