Hong Kong's breast milk bank offers best start to life
Hong Kong should be proud of the healthy head start achieved by a new programme to help babies and mums. The city's first breast milk bank, only six months after it started collections, has already nearly reached the goal set for its entire first year. Authorities had set an initial target for the Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank to gather 1,000 litres in its first 12 months. Officially opening the bank last Monday, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau praised the selfless dedication of 230 mothers who donated 900 litres of milk to support 120 infants.
Donating breast milk was 'harder than donating blood', Lo said, noting that the mothers who volunteered must also care for their newborns. To ensure safety, they went through strict screenings of their health situations and medical histories. They must even undergo blood tests before they can donate.
But the contributions make a profound difference. Most recipients are babies with health complications. Illness or premature birth means they must stay in neonatal intensive care units. In such cases, mothers often struggle to produce sufficient milk. Without donations, baby milk formula must be used. Breast milk can lower the risk of necrotising enterocolitis, septicaemia and chronic lung disease. Breast milk also boosts neurological development.
Donors at the ceremony spoke about a range of reasons they chose to help. One recalled giving birth after suffering two miscarriages, saying the experience motivated her to help others as she cared for her newborn.
Donation programmes have been successful in many other communities and surveys conducted in Hong Kong indicated there was strong support among pregnant women for donating milk.
Sadly, Hong Kong still lags behind World Health Organization targets when it comes to breastfeeding. While nearly 80 per cent of women start, only 20 per cent continue after six months, when most return to work. Organisers and donors involved in the new breast milk bank deserve credit for their efforts, but the community must help keep up the momentum as well as support creating better conditions for breastfeeding.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
4 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong charity's SEN swimming class a lifesaver for autistic, ADHD children
A Hong Kong charity has set up one of the city's biggest-ever learn-to-swim programmes for children with special education needs (SEN), aiming to teach 1,500 youngsters over three years. Splash Foundation, which teaches Hong Kong's disadvantaged communities to swim, has launched the Jockey Club Move Without Borders Project – Swim with Splash, giving children with mild to moderate SEN potentially life-saving skills. Data from the foundation suggests that youngsters with autism are 160 times more at risk of drowning than other children, and parents have said there had been a lack of classes in Hong Kong catering for those with SEN, especially for swimming. 'It is very important for them to take this course, because there are very few opportunities like this for SEN children,' mother-of-three Kwok Sin-ting said. Children and instructors pose for a photograph during the course. Photo: Edmond So 'And other swim classes are not suitable, because people will complain, thinking that my children are naughty, or the coach doesn't know how to work with SEN children, so they will ask us to leave.
South China Morning Post
7 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Elderly Hongkongers can use healthcare vouchers at 2 Zhuhai hospitals from Thursday
Elderly Hongkongers will be able to use healthcare vouchers for medical services at two hospitals in Zhuhai later this week under a government subsidy scheme, part of the city's plan to expand the coverage of the project across the border. Advertisement The government on Monday announced that the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme would be launched at Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and Zhuhai People's Hospital on Thursday. The latest additions would bring the total number of hospitals in mainland China that accepted the city's healthcare vouchers to 11. Currently, more than 1.78 million elderly people in Hong Kong are eligible to use government healthcare vouchers. As in Hong Kong and other existing locations in the Greater Bay Area, the vouchers cannot be used for inpatient services, prepaid healthcare procedures and day surgeries. Advertisement They also cannot be used solely for the purchase of goods, medication, medical equipment or products, or redemption for cash.
South China Morning Post
12 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Letters from readers: Perils of video games, healthy habits and school events
Do you have something to share? Send us your letters using this form . Lucas Chui (aged 11), German Swiss International School Video games are harmful to mental and physical health. Studies show that playing video games for more than two hours every day increases the risk of depressive symptoms in gamers. Prolonged gaming may contribute to physical health issues, such as eye strain and poor posture. Some studies suggest gaming can affect academic performance and attention span. When gaming replaces essential activities like exercise or face-to-face communication, it can harm overall life balance. Moderation is key. Lucas Chui attends German Swiss International School. Photo: Handout Cody Tsang (aged 9), Kellett School KLB Prep Some studies estimate that palm oil is used in 50 per cent of all packaged products found in supermarkets. However, its production has a significant impact on the climate, as it is a primary driver of deforestation. Trees are cut to clear land for palm trees, which are not suitable habitats for native animals. These animals lose their homes and often die. The fruit from the palm trees is harvested to extract the oil. Next time you shop at the supermarket, check the label to see if a product contains palm oil and consider whether you really need it. Cody Tsang attends Kellett School KLB Prep. Photo: Handout Zhu Yuen-ki (aged 12), Conservative Baptist Lui Ming Choi Primary School I have participated in many school events, but the most unforgettable one was the Graduation Camp. We went to the Hong Kong Baptist Assembly in Fanling and stayed there for three days and two nights. The most memorable experience was our barbecue on the first night, where we got to grill our own food. This event stands out as the most unforgettable experience of my primary school life, and I will always cherish the days I spent with my classmates. Zhu Yuen-ki attends Conservative Baptist Lui Ming Choi Primary School. Photo: Handout
