Luanda – Human milk banks assume an “unparalleled relevance” at the legal-constitutional level and contribute to the realization and respect for life, with the observance of the values of solidarity, equality and dignity of the person.
The statement was made on Tuesday, in Luanda, by the Minister of State for the Social Area, Dalva Ringote, in a speech given at the 1st Congress of Human Milk Banks of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), whose focus is 'Food and Nutritional Security for At-Risk Newborns and Infants'.
The minister said that the Angolan Executive recognizes the importance of human milk banks, having approved, within the scope of basic social protection and the national health system, the legal regime for family benefits, consisting of maternity and breastfeeding benefits.
She explained that the Angolan Government also implemented the legal regime that establishes prohibited and restricted work for women, in order to provide protection against actual or potential risks to genetic function, which brings benefits to the health of mothers and children.
She mentioned that the new General Labor Law was recently approved, which provides for women's special rights, in particular the interruption of daily work to breastfeed their child, which corresponds to the achievement of one of the most important goals of convention no. 183, adopted by the General Conference of the International Organization.
According to the government official, in Angola, the human milk bank initiative, launched in 2019, allowed health professional training and achieved a collection of more than 345 thousand milliliters, donated by 1,800 women, which allowed the care of 2,220 newborns.
She stated that the continued promotion and development of human milk banks in several countries is a stimulus to the values and objectives constitutive of the CPLP, increasingly imposing the promotion of cooperation in the fields of health, science, education and technologies.
From this perspective, he highlighted the intrinsic value of establishing common policies that allow for the implementation of training and training programs for health system staff, with a view to strengthening the operational capacity of national breast milk banks, in the name of protecting life. .
For the Minister of State, the human milk bank is a valuable exclusive and continued breastfeeding service, which aims to support, promote and protect breastfeeding, and contributes to increasing the chances of recovery of babies born prematurely or with low Weight.
On the occasion, the Minister of Health, Sílvia Lutucuta, said that the event represents an important milestone in accelerating the promotion and protection of maternal and child health, contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Objectives.
She stressed that it is essential to ensure that milk banks are accessible to everyone in need, which includes mothers who wish to donate breast milk.
“It is important to reduce access barriers and ensure that these services are available in all communities, even in remote areas, ensuring that they are culturally sensitive within the CPLP,” she warned.
According to the Health Minister, it is crucial to promote exclusive breastfeeding up to six months of age and extended breastfeeding up to 24 months, as one of the most important public health measures.
She guaranteed that the Angolan Executive hopes that the CPLP Human Milk Bank Network Action Plan 2024-2025 will be a comprehensive instrument, integrating synergies and valuable to facilitate and guide cooperation between the member states of the Portuguese-speaking community.
She expressed gratitude to all women who donated human milk, “an act of generosity, compassion, inspiring and transformative, constituting a shining example of altruism and empathy”. EVC/OHA/DOJ
