Karachi: Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho on Friday inaugurated Pakistan’s Shariah Compliant Human Milk Bank and Early Childhood Center at Sindh Institute of Health Child and Neonatology (SICHN) in Korangi, Karachi.
The milk bank was created in collaboration with ice UNICEF. This facility will provide donor milk to babies who cannot receive their mother’s milk for any reason. Breastmilk banks primarily serve premature or sick babies in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) whose mothers are unable to breastfeed. Donor milk can provide these vulnerable babies with essential nutrients, antibodies and protective factors that support their development.
In addition to providing donor milk to hospitalized babies, ASI banks can provide support and education to breastfeeding mothers, increase awareness of ASI, and conduct research on human milk and lactation.
In his opening speech, Dr. Azra highlighted the importance of the Human Milk Bank in mice and said that breast milk offers the best nutrition and vital immunity for newborns.
He advises breastfeeding mothers to breastfeed their babies exclusively for the first six months, without introducing food or water. UNICEF Pakistan Representative Abdullah Fadil also attended the event. He offered technical and financial support to UNICEF to establish more breast milk banks in other hospitals in Pakistan.
Prof Jamal Raza, executive director of the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology, described breast milk as the “ultimate fast food” and said it provides essential nutrients, healthy components and disease-fighting properties to newborns.
He explained that the facility will collect, process, store and distribute breast milk donated by nursing mothers. “After collection, the milk is pasteurized to eliminate the pathogens present, while maintaining its nutritional value. After pasteurization, the milk will be frozen until needed,” he said.
Prof. Raza said, in order to become a Sharia-compliant institution, complete records of donors and children will be kept in the institution and given to parents. He further stated that
