Milk, care and commitment: what we witnessed at HUPE and aim to carry forward

On September 17, 2025, the Rotary Club of Rio de Janeiro Maracanã took another relevant step in its commitment to public health by visiting the Human Milk Bank of Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto (HUPE), of the Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). The visit included the presence of the club’s 2025-2026 President Cláudia Reis, the 2025-2026 Director of the Humanitarian Projects Committee Carolina Brito, and the 2025-2026 DIREG Marcello Deodoro, a member of the Rotary Club of Rio de Janeiro Tijuca.

The group was welcomed by nurses Angélica Souza and Abilene Gouvêa and by nutritionist Cinthia Azevedo, who presented the operation of the Perinatal Unit and the challenges faced by the Human Milk Bank, an important structure within Brazil’s public health system.

The discussion addressed multiple dimensions of the topic, with emphasis on the strategic importance of breastfeeding, internationally recognized as one of the main protective factors for child health.

According to the World Health Organization, exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life can reduce mortality among children under five years of age by up to 13 percent, in addition to significantly reducing diseases such as diarrhea and respiratory infections (WHO, 2023).

Nurse Abilene highlighted the criteria required for hospitals to obtain international certification as “Baby Friendly Hospitals”, an initiative developed by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, which establishes ten steps for successful breastfeeding. The certification process includes training health care teams and creating supportive environments for breastfeeding within hospital units, a process that remains uneven across Brazil.

The Rotary Club Maracanã expressed its willingness to act as a facilitator in building bridges between public and private stakeholders. During the meeting, nurse Angélica Souza shared the successful experience of implementing a breastfeeding support room at a gas station, a practical example of how nontraditional spaces can be adapted to welcome breastfeeding mothers, contributing to workforce participation without compromising infant health.

HUPE Human Milk Bank donation campaign banner

Another topic discussed was the donation of sterilizable glass containers, considered an essential supply for the safe storage of human milk. According to Brazil’s Ministry of Health, each donated bottle of human milk can feed up to ten newborns per day, making the donation of containers an accessible and powerful way to save lives.

President Cláudia Reis also announced preparations for a special event in October bringing together presidents of women’s clubs to discuss entrepreneurship, women’s health and public policies.

The proposal aims to expand Rotary’s engagement with urgent and sensitive topics such as reproductive planning, drug use prevention and informed prenatal care, which are also expected to be included in the lecture calendar of partner schools in the region.

The visit to HUPE did not conclude as an isolated action, but rather as a milestone in the strategic articulation process of Rotary Maracanã with reference institutions in Rio de Janeiro.

Through this agenda, Rotary Maracanã reaffirms its work in alignment with one of the priority areas of focus of Rotary International: maternal and child health. An area that requires not only assistance, but also coordination, education and practical action.

Sources

• World Health Organization. Infant and young child feeding. Geneva, 2023.

• Brazil Ministry of Health. Guide to Human Milk Donation. Brasília, 2022.

• UNICEF Brazil. Baby Friendly Hospitals: Ten steps to successful breastfeeding.