GHBN Fellow bursary project: Ethics of Human Milk Banking
Supported by the Wellcome funded GHBN capacity-building bursary, Chifundo is undertaking a qualitative research project titled “An exploration of ethical issues on human milk banking at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Chatinkha Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Blantyre, Malawi.” Her study explores the ethical, cultural, and social implications of introducing human milk banking in Malawi, an emerging and potentially life-saving innovation for premature and vulnerable newborns.
By engaging with healthcare providers, mothers, fathers, and grandmothers, Chifundo’s research seeks to capture diverse perspectives on consent, trust, cultural considerations, and equitable access. The goal is to ensure that the introduction of milk banking is not only medically sound but also ethically grounded and culturally respectful.