Donor Milk to Africa

On May 20, 2008 International Breast Milk Project sent its 6th shipment of donated breast milk to South Africa. The shipment consisted of 43,000 ounces of tested and pasteurized donated breast milk, which is equivalent to approximately 10,000 infant meals. In the past, milk has been sent to the iThemba Lethu milk bank in Durban to supplement their local milk collections for their orphan home. This shipment will be shared with Milk Matters, a milk bank in Cape Town. Read more about how International Breast Milk Project got started.

  View pictures of the 2007 milk shipment to Africa.

IBMP Sustainability Model

International Breast Milk Project's Sustainability Model provides local milk banks in Africa with supplemental donor milk and start-up funding, serving as a vehicle for growth and ultimate long term sustainability.

Closing the Gap

Small milk banks in Africa exist but are not sufficient to feed the overwhelming number of infants in need due to the high rates of HIV/AIDS infection among the potential donor population.

International Breast Milk Project provides donor breast milk to supplement local collections in an effort to help close the gap in infant malnutrition.

Until enough milk can be collected locally to serve all of the infants being affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis and are being deprived of their mother's own milk, we think it is important to both send financial support and donor milk. Every ounce of milk is making a difference. Every ounce of milk is making a difference.

• Worldwide in 2006, approximately four million infants died before reaching the age of four weeks.
• According to UNICEF, babies who are breastfed have a 6 times greater chance of survival during the first 2 months of life.
• Research has shown that substitution of animal's milk, formula or water compromises the infant's digestive and immune system.
• Delaying the breastfeeding process, by even one day, doubles the chances of the infant dying before one month.(www.gbmi.us)