University of Ghana Medical Centre launches first-ever Human Milk Bank

The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has launched a Human Milk Bank in the country, a first-ever innovation to bridge the gap to breast milk access for families. 

The bank, which seeks to collect milk voluntarily from breastfeeding mothers, is uniquely tailored to meet the nutritional needs of babies and infants.

It would take donors through counselling and screening to confirm their eligibility for the expression of the milk, after which it would be processed, stored, and distributed.

Access to the milk would be free to families in need, but a processing fee would be required.

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 serves as a life-saving intervention. Breast milk is not just food, it is medicine,” the Minister said.

“We also 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 said globally, more than 700 human milk banks were saving lives from Brazil to South Africa, from India to the United Kingdom, “and Ghana proudly joins this world movement today.”

The initiative, Mr Akandoh noted, aligned squarely with the Government’s broader vision for newborn care, and as part of the Resetting the Health Agenda, they were committed to enhancing access to high-quality neonatal care.

“This includes scaling up NICUs and kangaroo mother care units and promoting exclusive breastfeeding, which currently stands out as 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, pasteurized donor human milk has proven to be the best alternative.