What a wonderfully insightful statement, "I do believe that money and power
influence what information is given to the public as well as what is
studied.  How many of us can do studies? And of those, how do you get
funding?  And who pays for that funding? I'd say that most have a difficult
time getting funding even when they have a worthwhile project."

This hit a nerve.  I find it so interesting that Johns Hopkins are involved
in a two-year study here of 14000 mother-baby pairs to find out if Vit A
supplementation (huge doses to mother and baby shortly after delivery) can
reduce HIV transmission during breastfeeding. And guess what? - a new "arm"
of the study to offer formula to mothers who "choose" not to breastfeed will
shortly be started.  Another study is in the pipleline (different funding)
looking at the "feasibility" of formula, and yet more pilot studies are
about to be initiated by UNICEF, also involving formula.

Yet NO-ONE (am I shouting?) will look at the safety and/or feasibility of
using EBM as a replacement feed for the babies of HIV+ mothers - a strategy
which would provide these very vulnerable babies with optimal nutrition and
protection from disease, ultimately cost nothing, be in the complete control
of mothers themselves, and cause less of a drain on already overstretched
healthcare services.

Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Pamela Morrison IBCLC, Zimbabwe
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