International Breast Milk Project Donates 2,500 Bottles of Breast Milk to AIDS-stricken Babies in South Africa

Organization calls on US mothers to donate milk for next shipment

NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- [MEDIAGLOBAL NEWS] The US-based International Breast Milk Project (IBMP), Prolacta Bioscience and Quick International Courier in a joint humanitarian effort delivered 10,000 ounces (2,500 bottles) of donor breast milk to be utilized by premature, sick and orphaned infants in Cape Town and Durban, South Africa.

The Cape Town and Durban based non-profits, Milk Matters and iThemba Lethu, distribute donor breast milk to over 25 major hospitals and two orphan homes for children affected by AIDS. Emphasizing the need for continued supply of donor breast milk, Dr. Max Kroon says, "In the developing world, breast-feeding and breast milk feeding are key interventions to promote child health and survival. These benefits are greater in preterm babies and are undermined if they get any non-human milk. With up to 200 HIV-exposed babies born at Cape Town's Mowbray Maternity Hospital every month, donor milk is critical to ensuring that these babies only get human milk which reduces the risk of HIV transmission while retaining the benefits of breast milk."

Penny Reimer, Director of iThemba Lethu Milk Bank, explained, "Breast milk provides optimal nutrition for babies orphaned as a result of HIV. It substantially improves their quality of life, reduces infections for those who are HIV infected and these babies grow and thrive on breast milk."

In an appeal to mothers in the US to donate milk for these vulnerable infants in Africa, IBMP's Executive Director, Amanda Nickerson states, "Donor breast milk is one of the most important resources for infants in developing countries and the demand consistently outstrips the supply."

Quick International Courier, global medical transportation and logistics specialists, donated their services to provide the fastest and most secure cold chain transportation services from Monrovia, California to South Africa.

Prolacta Bioscience, a life science company, that creates specialty formulations made exclusively from human milk for the nutritional needs of critically ill premature infants, partners with International Breast Milk Project by processing and packaging the donated breast milk to ensure its quality and safety.

International Breast Milk Project has provided over 277,682 ounces, or 69,420 bottles, of life-giving donor breast milk to infants in South Africa.  www.breastmilkproject.org

CONTACTS:
Amanda Nickerson, [email protected]
Tel: 786.837.3082

Nosh Nalavala, Mediaglobal News, United Nations
[email protected], Tel: 609.529.6129

SOURCE International Breast Milk Project