CSI: The South African Breast Milk Reserve

Stasha Jordan | Executive Director South African Breastmilk Reserve

Since its inception in 2003, the work of the SABR has been focused on premature babies especially and the value that breastfeeding and donated breastmilk (DBM) contribute towards reducing infant mortality and morbidity at the start of the Human Development Chain.

However, the health of an infant cannot be viewed in isolation. It is important to consider the broader health services that need to be made available to pregnant women and their children under five.

Since 2015, therefore, we began to expand our mandate to embrace a life-cycle approach to infant health and survival, looking at breastfeeding in the context of early childhood development and not only as a clinical solution to premature morbidity and mortality at hospital level.

Ante-natal health, HIV prevention and treatment, immunisation, family planning and breastfeeding support are some of the cornerstones that support better health outcomes for children once they leave hospital after birth and return to their communities.