In 2020, Uganda made a major leap in newborn health with the establishment of the country’s first human milk bank at Nsambya Hospital. With support from ELMA Philanthropies, the hospital successfully instituted the breast milk bank to meet the nutritional needs of preterm infants and babies whose mothers are unable to produce breast milk.
As part of the Uganda Newborn Programme, co-led by Uganda’s Ministry of Health and Makerere University School of Public Health, with collaborative support from Nsambya Hospital, Adara Development, and Baylor Uganda, the RIB (Resuscitation, Infection Control, and Breast Milk Banking) Project was initiated with funding from ELMA Philanthropies.
Under the RIB Project, there has been major gains in terms of infection control, neonatal resuscitation, capacity building, and access to human milk across several healthcare facilities.
Improved Neonatal Outcomes
According to recent data from the project, the five hospitals implementing the RIB Project have registered a notable reduction in neonatal infections, asphyxia cases, and mortality rates.
How ELMA’s Support is Making a Difference
Over last year, the initiative has expanded its reach to several hospitals across Uganda and is now working towards establishing lactation centers in Mengo and Lubaga hospitals alongside the primary milk bank at Nsambya Hospital. The impact has been immediate and profound.
From October to December 2024, a total of 38 liters of donor milk were collected across these hospitals. This milk was provided by over 270 mothers, who voluntarily donated their milk, and helped support 275 babies born prematurely or with low birth weight. The milk provided to these babies is not just nutrition; it’s life-saving sustenance that helps these vulnerable infants thrive.
Human breast Milk in a bank at Nsambya Hospital
These lactation centers and milk banks are part of a broader strategy to strengthen neonatal care. In addition to human milk banks, the project has helped establish designated neonatal resuscitation teams in key hospitals, providing essential training and equipment. With a refrigerated car for milk transport and the necessary resuscitation tools, the project has created a system that ensures the safe delivery of care from milk donation to neonatal resuscitation.
Breast Milk Donation on the Rise
One of the most remarkable aspects of the RIB Project is how it has changed perceptions around breast milk donation in Uganda. Despite cultural myths that once surrounded the idea of milk donation, the project has succeeded in cultivating a culture of generosity and solidarity among Ugandan mothers.
Thanks to ongoing community engagement and educational campaigns by the programme, mothers have been inspired to donate milk, understanding its life-saving potential for newborns. From antenatal clinics to community outreach, the project’s efforts have led to a significant increase in milk donation, proving that with the right support and information, communities can embrace these essential innovations.
In 2022, Uganda took a giant leap in strengthening newborn health through the launch of the Uganda Newborn Programme (UNP) a collaborative effort led by Makerere University School of Public Health, Baylor Foundation Uganda, Adara Development Uganda, St. Francis Hospital Nsambya, and the Ministry of Health, with funding support from ELMA Philanthropies.
ABOUT THE RIB PROJECT
The RIB Project Resuscitation, Infection Control, and Breast Milk Banking was launched under the Uganda Newborn Programme to improve newborn outcomes in selected hospitals by 2025. With support from ELMA Philanthropies and other partners, the project is currently working toward several key goals:
The project is driving efforts to reduce neonatal infections by at least 10% using quality improvement practices in newborn units. Ongoing data collection at Naguru and Kibuli is helping to track progress, particularly in addressing late-onset sepsis and antimicrobial resistance over a three-year period.
The RIB Project aims to strengthen newborn care in Uganda by ensuring that more babies, especially those born through Caesarean sections, receive immediate and skilled resuscitation. It is also working to improve outcomes for preterm babies by establishing satellite lactation centers for safe human milk donation in selected hospitals.
Infection control is another key focus using proven quality improvement methods, the project is targeting a reduction in neonatal infections and is closely monitoring trends in late-onset sepsis and antibiotic resistance in newborn units.
Lastly, the project aims to provide technical support and expert advice to national stakeholders, including the neonatal subcommittee and Kawempe National Referral Hospital, to ensure broader impact and sustainability of newborn care improvements across the country. The Project is led by Dr Victoria Nakibuuka , a neonatologist at Nsambya Hospital.