Quincy Jones at iThemba Lethu

The iThemba Lethu home for orphans of HIV/AIDS had a special visit from renowned musician, singer, com-poser and movie producer, Quincy Jones who was part of a delegation to visit United Nations International Children?’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) funded projects.

iThembu Lethu, in Cato Manor, was founded by Professor Anna Coutsoudis of the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine in 2001. An associated breast milk bank started by Professor Coutsoudis provides pasteurised milk to those who are under a year old. This model has been used to establish similar breast milk banks in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Professor Coutsoudis is currently undertaking a feasibility study funded by UNICEF to determine the logistics of setting up a community based breast milk bank for oprhans of HIV/AIDS including the cost effectiveness of such an initiative. Her studies on the nutritional value of breast milk for orphans who are immunologically and nutritionally compromised have shown that breast milk is superior to formula milk in protecting the infants from chronic diarrhoea and severe rashes.