Frank writes:

>I have been on medical missions to Haiti 14 times and continue to do so.
>Until one goes to Haiti and intimately lives with the people and 
>breathes and thinks Haitian
>all the time (in Haiti and outside of Haiti), one will not truly 
>understand all that is going with the
>"poorest of the poor" of the world.
>Haiti is beyond definition and description.
>I still do not understand it all.
>You need to become an Haitian to do so.


I absolutely accept all of that - with a humble heart in the face of 
people actually living the lives I am merely reading about, and the 
people working to make their lives less desperate.

>PS: The women of Haiti make every effort possible to breastfeed 
>under the most dire of circumstances.
They are encouraged to do so by everyone else in Haiti.

I accept that, too.

Trouble is, that over many years and with vast experience careful 
protocols have been developed by very experienced NGOs in emergency 
and poorest-of-the-poor situations  which recognise the need for 
infant formula (of course it is going to be needed) but which also 
recognise the need to protect and preserve breastfeeding, and the 
need to prevent lethally- dangerous formula feeding.

It's been proven necessary in the face of widespread formula 
distribution and reports of 'dumping' all over the world when 
disaster strikes. It's not unreasonable for us in the West, many of 
whom have given money to relief agencies and on whose behalf 
governments have donated tax dollars, pounds and euros, to ask that 
we have some reassurances that these protocols are followed.

( There is a report issued this week by Oxfam 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/06/haiti-earthquake-one-year-on 
that reveals a multiplicity of small agencies tripping over one 
another - while no more than 5 per cent of the rubble is cleared, 
because clearing the rubble is not a popular project, in comparison 
with rebuilding. 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/06/haiti-earthquake-one-year-on 
this radio programme is also worth listening to.)

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, tutor, UK

-- 
http://www.heatherwelford.co.uk

http://heatherwelford.posterous.com

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