Pakistan’s first Human Milk Bank project has been stopped amid a new religious decree (fatwa) issued amid widespread debate.
Sindh Institute of Child Health & Neonatology (SICHN) has temporarily halted the project and decided to approach Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi and Council of Islamic Ideology (CII).
Human Milk Bank and Early Childhood Center at SICHN, which was inaugurated some time back by Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho was aimed to provide breast milk to premature babies who couldn’t receive enough nutrition from their mothers.
SICHN officials said thousands of mothers of premature babies do not produce breast milk or either do not met the demand as per children’s nutritional needs, hence there was dire need for milk bank.
Officials also cleared that only milk from Muslim women would be provided to Muslim children, and the service would be free to avoid any commercial implications.
Darululoom Karachi issued fatwa with conditions endorsing project, but a revised fatwa has led to the suspension of the Human Milk Bank project.
