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Press Release |
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Pasteurised
Breast-milk |
A Safer
Method against HIV
National Breastfeeding Awareness Week 13-19 May 2002
In this week of National Breastfeeding Awareness,
Ace InterMed Ltd, an established supplier to NHS Trusts of breast-milk
pasteurisers has developed the Single Bottle Pasteuriser (SBP). This
low cost unit is a significant advance in the growth of human milk
banking and offers help in the fight against the danger of HIV+ mothers
transmitting the virus to their babies when breastfeeding.
In developing countries especially, where human milk banking resources
are very limited, the introduction of the SBP could mean a low cost,
effective answer to the problem of HIV being transmitted through breast-milk.
Since the SBP only requires boiling water to work, it is a viable
solution in crisis areas, where resources are scarce and mothers cannot
afford formula feeding.
A compact portable unit, designed for small amounts of breast milk,
the SBP employs a method identified in the Pretoria pasteurisation
article (1.
"Heat inactivates the HIV virus and so by pasteurising human
milk, where the heat from water is transferred to the milk, lives
really can be saved. And in a domestic environment, or where milk-banking
resources don't exist, babies can receive many of the benefits of
the breast-milk whilst the risk of passing on the virus can be eliminated."
The pasteurisation of breast-milk has long been an important safety
measure in the field of human milk banking. On the discovery that
HIV can be passed via breastfeeding, the UK saw a severe decline in
milk banks, as well as a decrease in the number of human milk donors.
Yet, milk banking saves thousands of lives every year throughout the
world. For premature babies in particular, donated human milk can
mean the difference between life and death. With increased capabilities
in pasteurisation of breast-milk, it is hoped that more mothers and
babies internationally, who would otherwise be at risk, will benefit
from greater access to this simple but effective method.
1) Pretoria Pasteurisation: A Potential Method
for the Reduction of Postnatal Mother to Child Transmission of the
Human Immunodeficiency Virus - B.S. Jeffery and K.G. Mercer, Journal
of Tropical Pediatrics. Vol 46, August 200, Oxford University Press,
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| CONTACTS: |
Press
Contact: Lacey Callanan
Tel/Fax: 0118 9310945
Email: info@laceycallanan.com
ACE InterMed: Mr Wayne Hine, Director
Direct Tel: +441264350424
Address: Unit 3, 94 Charlton Road,
Andover, Hants.
SP10 3JZ England
Tel: 01264 350508
Fax: +441264356281
Email: sales@ace-intermed.com
Website: www.ace-intermed.com
National Breastfeeding Awareness Week: funded
by Department of Health
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