Human milk banks in the response to COVID-19: a statement of the regional human milk bank network for Southeast Asia and beyond

International Breastfeeding Journal

Paul G. Zambrano¹  Vu H. Duong²  Janice Datu-Sanguyo³  Mei Chien Chua⁴  Estrella Olonan-Jusi⁵  Hikmah Kurniasari⁶  Nguyen T. T. Phuong⁷  Nguyen T. T. Anh⁸  Nant S. S. Aye⁹  Zaw Win Moe^1,10  Sopapan Ngerncham^1,11 

[1] Alive & Thrive Southeast Asia/FHI 360, 1101, Quezon City, Philippines;Alive & Thrive Southeast Asia/FHI 360, Hanoi, Vietnam;Alive & Thrive Southeast Asia/FHI 360, Manila, Philippines;Department of Neonatology and KK Human Milk Bank, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, Singapore;Human Milk Bank Association of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines;Human Milk Bank Initiative Association of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia;Human Milk Bank, Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children, Da Nang, Vietnam;Human Milk Bank, Tu Du Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam;Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Central Women’s Hospital, Yangon, Myanmar;Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Yankin Children’s Hospital, Yangon, Myanmar;Siriraj Human Milk Bank, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand;

关键词: COVID-19;    Human milk bank;    Breastfeeding;    Donor human milk;    Pasteurization;    Regional network;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13006-021-00376-2

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on infant feeding in the context of COVID-19 uphold standing recommendations for breastfeeding, non-separation, and skin-to-skin contact, including the use of donor human milk when mother’s own milk is not available.Insufficient guidance on the use of donor human milk and the role of human milk banks in the pandemic responseCOVID-19 clinical management guidelines in seven countries in Southeast Asia are not aligned with WHO recommendations despite the lack of evidence of transmission through either breastmilk or breastfeeding. The use of safe donor human milk accessed through human milk banks is also insufficiently recommended, even in countries with an existing human milk bank, leading to a gap in evidence-based management of COVID-19. This highlights long-standing challenges as well as opportunities in the safe, equitable, and resilient implementation of human milk banks in the region.ConclusionsThis statement reflects the expert opinion of the Regional Human Milk Bank Network for Southeast Asia and Beyond on the need to revisit national guidelines based on the best evidence for breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic, to incorporate human milk bank services in national obstetric and newborn care guidelines for COVID-19 where possible, and to ensure that operations of human milk banks are adapted to meet the needs of the current pandemic and to sustain donor human milk supply in the long-term. The Network also recommends sustained engagement with the global human milk bank community.

【 授权许可】

CC BY