Pakistan’s first Human Milk Bank initiative has been suspended after new fatwa.
The Sindh Institute of Child Health & Neonatology (SICHN) has halted its pioneering Human Milk Bank project.
This decision comes after the Darul Uloom Karachi issued a revised fatwa on June 16, leading the institute to seek further guidance from prominent religious authorities.
Background and Purpose:
The Human Milk Bank, the first of its kind in Pakistan, was established to provide essential breast milk to premature infants unable to receive adequate nutrition from their mothers.
These babies, born at 34 weeks or less and weighing under 2 kg, are particularly vulnerable to health complications, infections, and even early death without proper nutrition.
The milk bank aimed to bridge this gap by offering life-saving breast milk.
Initial Religious Approval and Suspension:
In December 2023, Darul Uloom Karachi initially provided conditional religious approval for the project.
However, a revised fatwa issued on June 16 necessitated the suspension of the milk bank’s operations.
In compliance with this updated guidance, SICHN has paused the project and plans to consult further with Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi and the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII).
Measures for Religious Compliance:
To address religious concerns, SICHN ensured that milk would be sourced from Muslim donors for Muslim infants, and the service was provided free of charge to avoid any commercial implications.
Implications and Future Steps:
The suspension of the Human Milk Bank poses significant health risks for premature infants reliant on this source of nutrition.
This situation highlights the ongoing challenge of aligning innovative health initiatives with cultural and religious norms in Pakistan.
Extremely unfortunate that a human milk bank project in sindh was stopped on some fatwa. How can this be against Islam which is the religion of peace and mercy? Very sad for the new born children who wd have benefited from this bank. What is the fault of these innocent? pic.twitter.com/R9nRV1ftxf
— Syeda Kulsume Hai (@KulsumeHai) June 22, 2024
As Human Milk Bank has been suspended, the future of the project now hinges on the outcome of consultations with religious authorities, which will determine if and how the milk bank can resume operations in compliance with Islamic principles.
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