A first of it's kind decree encourages Minnesota Muslim families to use donor breast milk for babies, after decades of resistance around the issue.
Muslim leaders and Minnesota doctors are issuing an official religious clarification around the use of donor breastmilk in life saving circumstances, including when babies are born prematurely. This comes after discussions between Muslim scholars and Minnesota doctors, and is believed to be the first of its kind initiative in the country.
Children's Minnesota Fetal Care Nurse Shukri Jumale says she believes this clarification will save lives.
"It's a clarification on the newer, the biomedical ethical things, that have changed over the years and how this impacts the entirety of our community," Jumale told WCCO.
Jumale says the work doesn't end here.
"We will create two resources for families," she says. "This will be a handout as well as a video in their language that will help explain the importance of this work."
Religious leaders and community members from around the state participated in the signing of a fatwa a religious ruling giving official approval to the initiative.
State Breastfeeding Coalition member Dr. Chip Martin-Chaffee says the collaboration between the medical and cultural communities made this possible.
"Now we can offer and encourage Muslim families and their infants to use pasteurized donor breast milk for their Children," says Martin-Chaffee. "Just as all other children can use in this state for their health."