The Ministry of Health will soon come up with a milk bank to help those newborns whose mothers pass away during delivery.
Veronica Kirogo, the deputy director Nutrition and Dietetics Services, said this will ensure the infants undergo the required 6-month exclusive reastfeeding.
“Just like blood banks, milk banks will require that mothers press milk which will be safely stored and given to infants without mothers.”
She said this will help caregivers of the orphaned babies save money that they would otherwise use in hospital when children fall ill.
“In addition, children who are fed on breast milk for the first six months tend to have a higher IQ than those who don’t,” Kirogo said.
The officer spoke during the World Breastfeeding Week which started on Wednesday and runs up to August 7.