The Gauteng Department of Health is calling all breastfeeding mothers to donate milk. Motalatale Modiba, the Head of Communication in the Department of Health, said to commemorate the Breastfeeding Week (WBW), the Gauteng MEC for Health, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi is pleading with breastfeeding mothers to frequently donate milk to the province’s four breastmilk banks.
This milk will help admitted pre-term infants to get nutritious food. The WBW which happens yearly from the 1st to 7th of August is calling the communities and organizations to promote, protect and support breastfeeding and help the health of babies.
“As a society, we have a shared responsibility to promote, protect and support breastfeeding to ensure children receive the best start in life, optimal health now and in the future.
“This cuts across society, we should encourage breastfeeding at our homes, at work, and in communities,” says Dr Mokgethi.
At the moment, there are four public breastmilk banks in the Gauteng province that collects and provides milk to preterm infants that were admitted to public hospitals.
The breastmilk banks are based at Sebokeng Regional Hospital in Sedibeng District, Kalafong Tertiary Hospital and Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Tshwane District, and Leratong Regional Hospital in the West Rand District.
Any healthy people that are breastfeeding can also donate at their nearest facility or milk collection sites such as the Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Tshwane District and Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital in Ekurhuleni District.
The people that wish to donate will undergo a health screening and for more information, they can contact Sebokeng Regional Hospital at 079 513 5903, Kalafong Tertiary Hospital at 076 722 4696, Steve Biko Academic Hospital at 084 587 5457, and Leratong Regional Hospital at 083 306 4101.
