- Date: August 20, 2024
- Location: Health Journalists’ Network Uganda (HEJNU) Offices
- Media Café Convenor/Moderator: Esther Nakkazi
- Breastfeeding Café Coordinator: Ruth Nazziwa
- Attendees: 25 Journalists
Café Objectives
- Breastfeeding Awareness: August is recognized as Breastfeeding Month, with statistics showing that approximately 87% of Ugandan women breastfeed their children. This session aimed to increase awareness about breastfeeding in the context of HIV.
- Understanding the IMPAACT Study: The café sought to disseminate the findings of the 2010 IMPAACT study, which focused on preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Speaker Summaries:
Dr. Enid Kabugho – MUJHU CARE LTD.
- Profile: A Medical Doctor and Epidemiologist with over 15 years of experience, Dr. Kabugho has been involved in research primarily focused on preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Currently, her work extends to other studies, including PrEP and TB.
- IMPAACT Study Background:
- Coordinated by Dr. Kabugho at MUJHU, the study was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health through the International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials (IMPAACT) Network.
- Conducted between 2018 and 2020, the study involved multiple countries, with two participating sites in Uganda: Baylor and MUJHU.
- The study aimed to ensure that results were generalizable across various ethnic, cultural, and genetic populations by enrolling participants from diverse locations, including Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States.
- Justification for the Study:
- The study sought to identify newer ARV drugs that could be safely administered during pregnancy and breastfeeding, with the goal of improving maternal health and preventing HIV transmission to infants.
- At the time, the national guidelines recommended an ARV regimen containing efavirenz, which was known to have side effects. The study compared this regimen to alternatives containing dolutegravir (DTG) and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF).
- Study Results:
- The study enrolled 643 pregnant women from January 2018 to February 2019, assessing three ARV regimens.
- The DTG-containing regimens were found to be more effective at controlling HIV during pregnancy than the EFV-containing regimen, with 98% of DTG recipients achieving viral suppression at delivery, compared to 91% of EFV recipients.
- Additionally, the DTG+FTC/TAF regimen had the best pregnancy outcomes, with fewer adverse events such as stillbirths, pre-term deliveries, and small-for-gestational-age infants.
- The findings support the WHO recommendation to use dolutegravir in all populations, including pregnant women.
Rachael Akugizibwe – ATTA Breastfeeding Community
- Introduction:
- Akugizibwe highlighted the emotional challenges of parenting preterm infants, emphasizing the role of breastfeeding as a critical support system.
- Breast milk is particularly vital for premature babies, offering essential nutrients and antibodies that help them fight infections and grow stronger.
- Breast Milk Donation:
- Akugizibwe discussed the importance of breast milk donation, especially for preterm babies whose mothers might be unable to provide sufficient milk.
- The ATTA Breastfeeding Community facilitates the collection and distribution of donated breast milk, ensuring that preterm infants receive the nutrition they need.
- ATTA’s Vision and Mission:
- Vision: Equitable access to safe, donated breast milk for all newborns in need.
- Mission: To end newborn deaths and maternal mental health challenges through breast milk donation.
- How ATTA Operates:
- Donor mothers undergo thorough screening, and their milk is carefully collected, labeled, and distributed to those in need.
- ATTA also engages in awareness campaigns and policy advocacy to support the establishment of human milk banks in Uganda.
Dr. Doreen Mazakpwe Ssemujju – Naturally Nourish
- Profile:
- Dr. Ssemujju is a Medical Doctor, Clinical Nutritionist, and an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with over 10 years of experience supporting breastfeeding mothers.
- Lactation Support:
- Dr. Ssemujju shared her personal journey of overcoming breastfeeding challenges, which inspired her to pursue a career in lactation consultancy.
- She emphasized the importance of providing mothers with expert, evidence-based support to help them achieve their breastfeeding goals, particularly during the critical first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
- Vision for Naturally Nourish:
- The organization aims to be the preferred provider of breastfeeding support services in Uganda, empowering mothers to nourish their children and lay a strong foundation for their future.
Key Questions Raised:
- How do babies cope with periods of milk shortages, and how does this impact infants relying on donated milk?
- Are there strategies to recruit more donors during times of scarcity?
- What are the long-term effects of dolutegravir on mothers and unborn children during pregnancy?
- How does the absence of national guidelines on human milk banking affect organizations like ATTA?
Media Coverage:
- Several media outlets covered the event, highlighting the critical need for breast milk donation and the challenges faced by breastfeeding mothers in Uganda.
Compiled by: Shamim Nateebwa