THE government is
planning to establish a breast milk bank, Minister for Health, Community
Development, Gender, Elderly and Children Ummy Mwalimu said yesterday.
Speaking during the
launching of the World Breastfeeding Week yesterday, she said they were
working on the best modalities for establishing the bank, which would,
among other tasks, address nutrition issues amongst infants.
She said there were
a number of challenges being discussed as far as the plan was
concerned, including how best to get quality breast milk.
"Kenya has set up a breast milk bank. We are planning to have our own. We are working on the best modalities," said Ms Mwalimu.
The minister
explained that the bank that was likely to be set up at Muhimbili
National Hospital (MNH) would, among other benefits, facilitate economic
relief forparents.
"It will reduce the high cost of purchasing the infants milk formula, especially canned one," she added.
However, she said
they would be working stage by stage to ensure that they were ready for
the milk bank, especially in addressingthe challenges of how best they
would handle an increase in the number of diseases that might have
effects on consumers.
She also used the
platform to urge responsible authorities to set aside rooms in
workplaces for breastfeeding mothers, where they could undertake the
noble task in a conducive environment.
She also explained
that breastfeeding employees whose employers were blocking themfrom
breastfeeding their children to lodge complaints to their area labour
offices for intervention.
As for men, he said
a statutory paternity leave would be abolished if it became apparent
that most fathers were not utilising it as intended.
The minister told
the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre (TFNC) to conduct public
awareness training, especially on six-month exclusive breastfeeding, so
that it would be well understood by the majority of people.
"There is a need to increase collective responsibility"
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