Dear All,
It was good to read Marsha Walker's response on feeding in emergency situations, and the need for more input on relactation, as well as ILCA's statement on this issue.
May I add to this that I understand the BMA recently put out a Press Release, stating that "Donations of breastmilk substitutes are not welcome in the refugee camps" as this had the potential to damage a breastfeeding culture. There is also information on this, with a request *not* to donate breastmilk substitutes, at the following website, in a column down the right side of the page: http://www.who.dk/cpa/Kosovo/infant.html
This is yet another occasion when we ask ourselves, just who benefits when "generous" donors (NGOs and individuals, I guess, as well as companies), dump large quantities of ABMs (and also inappropriate medications) on populations living in crisis. So what happens? - The gifts are either used inappropriately (and artificial feeding in these circumstances is certainly "inappropriate"), or they end up on the "black" economy, doing all sorts of strange things to the shaky economy, both family level and community-wide. As for the human suffering of sick babies and worried mothers, how can we ever measure this! The only winners are the donors, who get a completely undeserved good feeling.
This sort of situation is one where those on the side of the angels are going to need to be eternally vigilant. It means never letting up and being complacent, 'cos this will keep coming back. Every time there is a humanitarian disaster or natural calamity, there'll be this knee-jerk reaction - quick send bottles and teats and fake milks to those babies!
Regards,
Virginia [log in to unmask]
Virginia Thorley
in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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