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As part of World Breastfeeding Week, the Gauteng Department of Health today unveiled the expanded Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Lactation Centre at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, increasing its capacity to support breastfeeding mothers.
The Centre now accommodates 44 mothers per session, up from 22, offering a calm, hygienic space equipped with hospital grade breast pumps and trained lactation support staff. In June alone, mothers made 1,949 visits and expressed 131 litres of breastmilk important for newborns in neonatal intensive care.
Speaking at the opening of the expanded section, MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said: “This Centre is more than just infrastructure it is a statement of care. When we support mothers, we give babies a fighting chance and we strengthen families.”
The launch supports World Breastfeeding Week 2025, observed under the theme: “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems.”
According to the World Health Organization, “breastmilk is the ideal food for infants safe, clean, and rich in antibodies that help protect against childhood illnesses.”
The impact of the Centre was captured in the words of Karabo Mahlaba, one of the mothers who used the facility: “The lactation centre became so much more than just a place to express milk. It became a safe space where I could breathe, connect with other mothers, and begin to heal,” she said.
The initiative is a result of strong partnerships between RMHC South Africa, McDonald’s SA, and Gauteng Health. The department has called for more public-private collaborations to support maternal and infant health in the province.
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