Join us in our mission to provide life-saving breastmilk to premature babies worldwide

SoSAFE Pasteurizer Launch:

• Introducing SoSAFE: We are excited to announce the launch of SoSAFE, our state-of-the-art breastmilk pasteurizer designed to ensure the highest safety standards. The SoSAFE pasteurizer is IEC certified for laboratory equipment safety, making it a reliable choice for hospitals and milk banks globally.
• Benefits:
  • Safety: Ensures breastmilk is free from harmful pathogens.
  • Efficiency: Streamlines the pasteurization process, saving time and resources.
  • Accessibility: Designed for ease of use in diverse healthcare settings.
• How to Get SoSAFE: Interested in implementing SoSAFE in your facility? Contact us at SoSafe@sabr.org.za for more information on how to get started.

Introduction:

• Department of Health Collaboration: The SABR coordinates human milk banking efforts in partnership with the North West Department of Health, the Limpopo Department of Health, The Northern Cape Department of Health, the Eastern Cape Department of Health, the Gauteng Department of Health, and the Mpumalanga Department of Health. We maintain informal cooperation with the Free State Department of Health and the Kwa-Zulu Natal Department of Health.
• Footprint: Our services reach 156 NICUs, both public and private.

Award-Winning Impact:

The South African Breastmilk Reserve (SABR) is proud to have received the Discovery Excellence Award in both 2018 and 2021 for our SOStainer Mobile Container Clinic Project as well as the SABRViro1 Research into the virological monitoring of donated breastmilk. This innovative initiative provides a holistic approach to promoting and facilitating best practices in saving the lives of newborn, premature, or very-low-birth-weight infants, with far-reaching implications for the well-being of children and socio-economic development.

Sustainable Human Development:

• Our Commitment: Since its inception in 2003, SABR has been dedicated to improving the health outcomes of premature babies by leveraging the life-saving benefits of breastfeeding and donated breastmilk (DBM). Our work plays a crucial role in reducing infant mortality and morbidity at the beginning of the Human Development Chain.
• A Holistic Approach: The health of an infant is interconnected with the broader health services available to pregnant women and children under five. Recognizing this, since 2015, SABR has expanded its mandate to adopt a life-cycle approach to infant health and survival, emphasizing breastfeeding in the context of early childhood development. Key areas of focus include ante-natal health, HIV prevention and treatment, immunization, family planning, and breastfeeding support.

Our Experience:

• Pioneering Efforts: With 18 years of experience, SABR has:
  • Pioneered a human milk-banking model in South Africa.
  • Developed breastmilk pasteurizers tailored to minimize pathogens and maximize nutrition in local African conditions.
  • Created a sustainable and replicable cost-recovery business model for non-profit human milk banking.
  • Implemented essential systems for remote monitoring and tracking of DBM supplies using customized IT technology.

The Need for Support:

• Impact of Prematurity: In South Africa alone, 8 in 100 babies are born prematurely, and 11,000 premature babies die from preventable infections and complications every year. These deaths have considerable cost implications for the healthcare system and significant socio-economic impacts.