The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has launched the first-ever Human Milk Bank in the country. This innovative initiative aims to improve access to breast milk for families in need. The milk bank will collect milk voluntarily from breastfeeding mothers and is designed to meet the nutritional needs of babies and infants.
Donors will undergo counselling and screening to confirm their eligibility for donating milk. Once approved, the milk will be processed, stored, and distributed. Access to the milk will be free for families in need; however, a processing fee will apply.
Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, commended the initiator of the milk bank, Professor Cecilia Obeng of the Indiana University, School of Public Health- Bloomington, for her patriotism and for ensuring that Ghana was among the few countries in Africa with such a facility. He said every year in Ghana, more than 128,000 babies were born premature and complications from prematurity remained one of the leading causes of neonatal deaths, contributing to an estimated 30 percent of under-five mortality that occurred in the neonatal period.
“It is during this crucial period of life that human milk acts as a life-saving intervention. Breast milk is not just nourishment; it is also medicine,” the Minister stated. “We know that a significant number of facility-based deliveries—up to 15 percent—result in admissions to neonatal intensive care units, often due to low birth weight, prematurity, or birth-related complications.” He mentioned that globally, more than 700 human milk banks are saving lives, from Brazil to South Africa and from India to the United Kingdom. “Today, Ghana proudly joins this global movement,” he added.
Mr. Akandoh emphasized that this initiative aligns with the Government’s broader vision for newborn care. As part of the Resetting the Health Agenda, they are committed to enhancing access to high-quality neonatal care. “This includes scaling up NICUs and kangaroo mother care units, as well as promoting exclusive breastfeeding, which is currently a priority but needs to be increased to meet our national and Sustainable Development Goals targets,” he said.
The Minister commended the University of Ghana and its dedicated team for leading the bold initiative and the partners at Indiana University for their commitment to global health and technical support on this journey. Professor Cecilia Obeng, the Lead Designer and Sponsor of the Human Milk Bank, said it would enable preterm and low birth weight babies to have breast milk.
“This will provide essential nutrients and antibodies that significantly improve health outcomes,” she said. The UGMC, to effectively start the milk collection process from next month, had started training its health workers to successfully undertake the activities, she said.
Dr Abdul-Samed Tanko, the Chief Executive Officer of UGMC, said the new initiative had presented opportunities for collaboration among healthcare providers, researchers, and communities to promote breastfeeding and improve infant health. Though it may come with challenges from recruiting milk donors to ensure the safety and quality of the milk, he said the medical team would apply stringent measures to ensure the success of the initiative.
Dr Tanko urged healthcare professionals, policymakers, partners, NGOs, professional associations, and community leaders to support the mission. “Together, in the long run, we can create a network of human milk banks across Ghana, providing critical care for those who need it most,” he added
Dr Beatrice Nyann, the Head of Paediatric Department, said the hospital would embark on a public education campaign to raise awareness on the importance of breast milk donation and human milk banking. She called on mothers who were fortunate to have breast milk in excess to donate to the bank to save babies lives. Breast milk strengthens immunity, fosters brain development, protects against infections, and lowers the risk of chronic disease later in life.
It is for these reasons that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a mother’s breast milk as the best milk for newborns; however, when unavailable, pasteurised donor human milk has proven to be the best alternative.
Source: GNA
