ISLAMABAD: Senior child specialists from the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) Karachi on 25-March-2025 urged the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) to approve the establishment of Pakistan’s first human milk bank, rebranded as the “Mothers Milk Registry,” to save thousands of premature babies who cannot survive without breast milk.
The experts assured religious scholars that only one foster mother’s milk would be provided to each infant, ensuring compliance with Islamic guidelines on foster relationships.
Addressing a CII meeting, chaired by its chairman Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi, the SICHN delegation — including Executive Director Prof. Jamal Raza, Prof. Rehan Ali, Dr. Shahid, and Mufti Asim — presented alarming statistics.
Following the discussion, CII Chairman Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi announced that the council would deliberate further on the matter and continue discussions in its next session on Wednesday (today).
The experts revealed that out of 6.6 million children born annually in Pakistan, 940,000 are premature, and around 194,000 die each year due to a lack of access to mother’s milk.
Prof. Jamal Raza explained that premature babies, especially those born before 34 weeks, cannot suckle and struggle to digest formula milk in their first few days of life. “Breast milk is not just food; it is medicine for newborns. It prevents infections, strengthens immunity, and significantly reduces infant mortality rates,” he emphasised.
The experts highlighted how aggressive marketing from the infant formula industry has convinced many mothers that formula milk is superior to breastfeeding. “The formula industry has changed mindsets through massive advertising, persuading mothers that formula-fed babies are healthier. As a result, even when mothers can breastfeed, they often don’t,” Prof. Jamal lamented.
He pointed out that parents of premature babies often struggle to afford specialised formula. In contrast, breast milk from donor mothers is a natural, cost-free alternative that can save thousands of lives.
The SICHN team reassured the CII that their initiative does not contradict Islamic teachings. “We seek the council’s guidance to establish a Shariah-compliant process for providing foster mothers’ milk to save premature infants,” Prof. Jamal stated, adding that misinformation on social media had created unnecessary controversy.
He cited a fatwa from a major Islamic institution in Karachi that has already endorsed the milk registry, demonstrating that religious scholars can support the initiative after proper consultation.
Dr. Rehan Ali, a senior neonatologist, emphasised that human milk banks operate in over 66 countries, including Islamic nations such as Malaysia, Iran, and Dubai.
He further clarified that human milk is stored in liquid form and undergoes pasteurisation, a process in which it is heated to high temperatures to eliminate harmful bacteria and then rapidly cooled to preserve essential proteins. He reassured the council that donor milk can be stored for up to six months and is provided to infants through feeding tubes, as premature babies lack the ability to suckle.
Addressing concerns about record-keeping and transparency, Dr. Rehan Ali stated that every baby receiving donor milk would have a documented record.
“Three steps would ensure transparency: first, parents would receive a clear explanation of the process; second, a written document with details of both the baby and donor mother would be provided to the family; and third, a copy of this record would be maintained by the institution to ensure compliance with ethical and religious guidelines,” he added.
The council members expressed appreciation for the SICHN experts’ insights, acknowledging that they had not previously heard the medical perspective on the issue. Some scholars remarked that if only one woman’s milk is used per child and complete records are maintained and shared with both families, there should be no Islamic objections to the milk registry’s establishment.
Published in News Daily on 26-March-2025.
