Does anyone have a succinct, easily understood way of explaining
the WHO code to lay people to help them decide which products to use,
if and when they are needed?  Thanks, Kris Kiley, RNC, IBCLC

Hi Kris

My very succinctist answer is that I would see no need to do so.

The longer answer would be that the WHO Code of Marketing of Breast Milk 
Substitutes and subsequent relevant WHA Resolutions.... (Whew you can only 
be succinct *after* you have given the full title!) is a code of marketing 
the products, and is therefore not directed at the people deciding which 
products to use.  Any parent or caregiver needs to use the best product for 
the situation they are in, no matter how unethically those products are 
marketed.  It's partly up to us to help them decide what is best for their 
situation.  I can't picture myself even mentioning the WHO Code to a parent, 
unless I was being an activist asking them to look out for Code Violations, 
which seems somewhat off the chart.  Are there other lay people who might be 
using the relevant products?

So here is my attempt at a short form of the aims of this Code:

The "Code" would govern manufacturers, retailers, health workers (some 
sections), advertisers. It does not govern parents.  It basically lays out 
what must and must not be on labels of artificial milk, complementary foods 
and milk feeding equipment, and how the product may be promoted or 
displayed, as well as barring promotion within health institutions.

OR:

The folks who make and sell the stuff for bottle feeding mustn't make it 
look better than or the same as breastfeeding, must have honest clear labels 
showing how to safely use and clean the products, and mustn't bribe health 
workers to sell it for them.

Now if you are really meaning "the nestlé boycott" - as a slap on the wrist 
to a certain Code violator - I will leave that to others to answer.  Again, 
that seems outside our scope of practice when interacting with clients, 
though many of us make it a personal choice.

Best wishes
Jacquie Nutt IBCLC
South Africa

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome