Background: World Health Organization (WHO), reported that annually, about 20 million infants are born with low birth weight (LBW) either due to intrauterine growth restriction or preterm, world-wide. Preterm infants are babies born before reaching 37 complete weeks of gestation age. Preterm births accounts for about 15million worldwide and are the chief cause of neonatal mortality rate accounting to about 1 million babies dying annually. Studies revealed that, at least 80% of neonatal deaths happen in sub-Saharan region and south Asia. Malawi is having the vast figure of preterm births and highest neonatal mortality rate among high ranking ones. Objective: This article highlights some of the benefits of mothers own milk to preterm infants and the support lactating mothers needs from health professionals. Results: It was revealed that, preterm babies need extra care and optimizing nutrition is one of the championing strategies to support their health needs. WHO recommends breast milk especially from baby’s own mother as the optimal nutrition for preterm infants. Mothers own milk (MOM) is the best as compared to donor human milk or infant formula in these special infants. The health care professionals support on feeding these special babies is essential. Human milk’s composition is usually adapted to the unique needs of each particular infant and suitable for gestation age. Conclusion: Mothers own milk (MOM) is fundamental in risk reduction of neonatal morbidity and mortality due to its digestibility, bioavailability and suitability to preterm infants. MOM is the best for preterm infants as it is gentle on the baby’s digestive system yet provides more nourishment.

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus the same vector that causes Dengue and Chikungunya. ZIKV originated from Uganda and was first discovered in monkeys at Zika forest in 1947. Historically, ZIKV causes mild and self-limiting symptoms which can be observed in only 20folds of infected individuals. Recently, in 2015, ZIKV imaged in Brazil and has been linked to serious neurological complications including microcephaly. In 2016, the World Health Organization declared this fact as “Public Health Emergency” Objective: Review on possible mother to child transmission of ZIKV in utero and its related teratogenic effect. Method: Studies both in human and animal models revealed a relationship between ZIKV infection in pregnancy and neurological effects such as microcephaly in fetus and neonates. Result: ZIKV has been linked with microcephaly especially when symptoms emerged in a pregnant woman during first and early second trimester. Conclusion: Although there is a linkage between ZIKV and neurological effects such as microcephaly, most people still doubting as to whether the emerging problem of microcephaly is related to ZIKV infections which is known to present with mild and self-limiting symptoms.