Brazil wins prestigious
WHO Sasakawa prize
Human milk banks and breastfeeding support, a global model
Dr. Joao Aprigio Guerra de Almeida was honoured with the prestigious global Sasakawa prize for his work in organizing one of the world’s most important human milk bank networks. His work, and that of his Brazilian colleagues, with the Brazilian Ministry of Health as a pioneer in developing breastfeeding policy is a symbol of how much can be done in the public sector to counteract aggressive marketing in the fundamental field of health rights.
As a result the government of Brazil has made the support for breastfeeding a national priority. The results provide an example to other countries of what can be accomplished when the value of breastmilk is truly recognized.
Some statistics:
The average duration of breastfeeding increased from 5.5 months in 1989 to 10 months by 1999
As of April, 2001, Brazil had 182 Baby-Friendly Hospitals
A network of 150 human milk banks collects donated milk, gathering more than 218,000 litres of milk during 1999-2000 and providing milk for nearly 300,000 pre-term and low birth weight babies
The provision of banked human milk saves Brazil’s Ministry of Health about $540 million per year
Trained firefighters or employees of the Human Milk Bank go to the mother’s home to pick up donated milk
More than 6000 mail carriers have been trained in the “Breastfeeding Friendly Postman Program” to share information on breastfeeding with pregnant women and mothers as they go door to door delivering mail
Legislation regulates the promotion and use of breastmilk substitutes, complementary foods as well as nipples, bottles and pacifiers.
By involving groups such as firefighters and mail carriers in breastfeeding support roles, the government of Brazil underlines the importance of breastfeeding to the entire country.
