Infant feeding in emergencies: experiences from Lebanon

 

http://peacejournalism.com/ReadArticle.asp?ArticleID=19219

 

The provision of infant formula and milk for infants and young children is a
very emotive subject, especially during emergencies. NGOs have been
struggling with how to tackle this problem since the early 1990s, when
emergencies in countries such as Iraq revealed that a significant percentage
of women had been using breastmilk substitute (BMS) before the crisis
occurred. Previously, relief work had focused on countries where the
pre-crisis breastfeeding rate was nearly 100% and although breastfeeding
practices were often less than ideal, at least that lifeline for infants was
there. However, even when relief agencies knew the benefits of breastfeeding
and the dangers of BMS, especially during emergencies, they felt that they
had to do something to support affected infants, and so often distributed
infant formula - untargeted, unmonitored and without follow-up.

 

Since then, agencies have been developing infant feeding in emergencies
(IFE) policies, initiatives and training materials. However, the conflict in
Lebanon has again highlighted the difficulties in supporting formula-fed
infants, while at the same time promoting breastfeeding. This article
outlines the background to IFE, then describes the IFE response in Lebanon
and the major issues that arose from it. It draws on the findings of a Save
the Children mission to Lebanon to monitor IFE and support safe infant
feeding practices.

 

(see link for full article)

 

Janice Reynolds


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