A 100 breastfeeding mothers are expected to donate breastmilk at the Kalafong hospital on Thursday. The event will mark the start of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week and help Save the Children South Africa celebrate its 100-year birthday. 

An estimated 1 200 viable donors are recruited annually in South Africa; however, the inclusion criteria see nearly 60% of registered donors found unviable. Increasing awareness of the importance of breastfeeding and breastmilk donations is paramount to ensuring improved outcomes in the neonatal population, a target population where South Africa remains unable to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing under-five mortality.

The event is hosted in partnership with the Department of Health, South African Breastmilk Reserve, South African Civil Society for Women's Adolescent's and Children's Healthand UNICEF. Keynote speakers include the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize and First Lady, Dr Tshepo Motsepe. 
 
Details of the event are as follows:
 
Date: Thursday, 01 August 2019
Venue: Kalafong Hospital, Atteridgeville – Pretoria West
Time: 10h00 – 14h00

For more information or to set up interviews contact: Sibusiso Khasa on 0609879810/073 449 6871or [email protected]