AI Insight
Brazil operates an extensive network of milk banks that collects, processes, and distributes donated human milk to infants in need. The system has been documented by photographer Kristin Bethge, showcasing how the country provides some of the world's most affordable and safest donated breast milk. This network serves hundreds of thousands of babies annually who cannot access their own mothers' milk.
Why it matters
The Brazilian milk bank system demonstrates a successful public health model for providing critical nutrition to vulnerable infants, including premature babies and those whose mothers cannot breastfeed. This approach could serve as a template for other countries seeking to establish safe, accessible breast milk donation programs.
Understand the Science
These images from photographer Kristin Bethge document Brazil’s milk bank system, which provides some of the world’s cheapest and safest donated milk to hundreds of thousands of babies
Source: Inside Brazil’s vast network of lifesaving free milk banks