Karachi, Sindh: Pakistan has opened its first Shariah-compliant Human Milk Bank at the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) in Korangi, Karachi. Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho inaugurated the facility on Friday.
This milk bank, set up with Unicef’s help, will provide donated milk to babies who can’t receive their mother’s milk. This is especially important for premature or sick babies in hospitals. Donor milk gives these babies essential nutrients and antibodies they need to grow.
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The milk bank will also support and educate mothers about breastfeeding. At the inauguration, Dr. Azra stressed how important mother’s milk is for newborns, providing them with the best nutrition and immunity. She urged mothers to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months.
Unicef’s Abdullah Fadil, present at the event, promised more support to establish similar milk banks in other hospitals. Prof. Jamal Raza, director of SICHN, highlighted that mother’s milk is like ‘original fast food’ for babies, offering all necessary nutrients and disease-fighting properties.
The facility will collect, process, store, and distribute donated milk. The milk is pasteurized to kill any germs while keeping its nutritional value and then stored frozen. To ensure Shariah compliance, all donor and recipient records will be maintained and shared with parents. Additionally, a team from SICHN will receive training in some Islamic countries to better manage the Human Milk Bank.
