"Exclusive breastfeeding" rates in South Africa have dropped to just 22% — well below global targets — and a growing concern as child malnutrition rises.

But in neonatal wards across Gauteng, donor milk banks are helping bridge the gap — collecting and distributing breast milk to feed the tiniest and most vulnerable newborns.

Exclusive breastfeeding means giving a baby only breast milk for the first six months, which provides the best nutrition and protects them from illness.

As we wrap up World Breastfeeding Awareness Week, HOT 1027’s Natasha Thorp, looks at the critical role that milk banks play in protecting tiny lives: