Today on Frontline Friday I would like to highlight an incredible donation from our dedicated partner organisation, Medela Cares. 

Medela Cares was born out of Medela as a corporate social responsibility program to support the United Nations Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Medela is a global player in breastfeeding research, products, technology and innovation, and is the #1 breast pump brand most recommended by doctors and use in hospitals. Founded in 1961 by Olle Larsson and headquartered in Switzerland, under the leadership of Olle Larsson’s son Michael, Medela has become a driving force in breastfeeding products and medical vacuum technology thanks to continued research, innovation and the evaluation of customers’ needs. 

With my extensive advocacy and promotion on the benefits of early and exclusive breastfeeding for the mum and their baby, it is fitting that Medela Cares has partnered with my Wellbeing Foundation Africa to collaborate on our intrinsic synergies in alignment with UN’s Every Woman, Every Child.

Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. Breastmilk is the ideal food for infants providing all the energy and nutrients they need, especially premature babies in the NICU who are more susceptible to infections. It is safe, clean and contains antibodies that help protect against many common infant and childhood illnesses. Women who breastfeed also have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancers. 

Currently, Nigeria is the 6th for infant mortality globally, and in children younger than 5 years, 47% of deaths occur in the first 28 days of life, many of which are preventable and can be addressed through improved nutrition with mother’s milk. 

Unfortunately, Nigeria, with one of the highest premature delivery rates in the world, also has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world with only 17% of mothers exclusively breastfeeding their children through 6 months. To improve these statistics, the United Nations set a global goal to improve breastfeeding rates to 50% by the year 2030, which WBFA and Medela Cares are actively working to reach. 

Together, Medela Cares and the Wellbeing Foundation Africa are improving the education, tools and support offered to NICU medical professionals and new mothers of premature babies in Nigeria by delivering NICU-specific education and training on the value of human milk and how to build sufficient milk supply for long-term breastfeeding. Ensuring new mothers are wholly supported to breastfeed is not only critical for the health and wellbeing of the baby: it is linked to all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The Medela Cares life-saving donation to WBFA include: 

• Symphony Pump Set
• Mobile Stand to Symphony Plus
• PersonfitPLUS Breast Shield
• Symphony Breastpump Battery Version
• Medela AG Training Material 
• Symphony Card and Cord Protector
• Breast Milk Bottles
• Lid with Opening Multi-Pack 

We are very grateful for the Medela Cares donation of their hospital-grade breast pumps, and accessories, engineered with innovative expression technology. This donation will better the lactation care provided to mothers and ultimately improve the infant feeding and health outcomes in Nigeria.

 

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