Social Democrats Spokeswoman on Children Councillor Jennifer Whitmore has called for a human milk bank to be set up in the Republic of Ireland.
“We can’t allow families and babies-in-need to be caught up in any potential political upheaval in the wake of Brexit. The Government needs to take a proactive approach and establish a donor milk bank in the Republic.”
Social Democrats Spokeswoman for Children Councillor Jennifer Whitmore has called for a human milk bank to be set up in the Republic of Ireland.
Speaking at the start of National Breastfeeding Week, Councillor Whitmore said sick and premature babies should not have to depend on supplies from the single donor bank on the island, located in Northern Ireland.
“Milk from the Co Fermanagh donor bank is made available to sick babies in hospitals and specialist units throughout the island of Ireland,” said Councillor Jennifer Whitmore.
“This is a very important service, which in some instances can mean the difference between life and death. The current arrangements have operated well for eighteen years, thanks to the fact that Northern Ireland is part of the EU.
“We can’t allow families and babies-in-need to be caught up in any potential political upheaval in the wake of Brexit. The Government needs to take a proactive approach and establish a milk bank in the Republic so that donor milk from Irish mothers can be collected, processed and stored in this jurisdiction.”
ENDS
1st October 2018