Kenya’s Sole Breast-Milk Bank Offers Lifeline to Premature Babies

Kenya’s only formal breast-milk bank, located at Pumwani Maternity Hospital, is providing critical support to premature and vulnerable newborns whose mothers are unable to breastfeed.


The facility, which opened in 2019, processes donated human milk that is screened, pasteurised and stored for use in neonatal units. It caters especially to preterm infants, orphaned babies, or those whose mothers are incapacitated or produce insufficient milk.


Since its inception, approximately 931 preterm babies have benefited from the bank. Daily donations now exceed five litres, and more than 500 women have volunteered to donate.


A study published at the hospital found that infants fed exclusively on human milk had shorter hospital stays, up to 27 per cent less, compared with those fed with formula. Exclusive human milk feeding rates have risen significantly since the milk bank began operations.


Health experts say the milk bank not only improves chances of survival for at-risk newborns, but also reduces costs and complications associated with formula feeding. However, there remain challenges: screening and pasteurisation require resources, and there is a need to scale up the model to serve more hospitals across Kenya.

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