Hi Magda,
I'm not aware of it being discussed on any forums in any significant way.
I've been trying to keep my ear to the ground as much as possible to get
some idea of what is going on. In scale, I don't think there is anything
comparable that has happened in an industrialised country except Hurricane
Katrina (which was much larger in terms of the population affected).
Certainly there is infant formula being distributed in evacuation centres
and it seems likely that much of this has been donated by industry (a breach
of the Code and the Ops Guidance on IFE). As to how carefully this formula
is being distributed I have not been able to find out. Certainly many of the
resources needed to formula feed including formula, water and power are in
short supply in many places. It really concerns me. The world has turned
upsidedown for many families and something that was perhaps easy for many,
formula feeding, has suddenly become extremely difficult. ABA has contacted
aid orgs to ensure that they are aware of the breastfeeding helpline but I
don't know how many calls have come through from affected families
(hopefully will find out at some stage).
Karleen Gribble
Australia 

-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Magda Sachs
Sent: Thursday, 13 January 2011 8:00 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Infant feeding in the Australian flood

I have not been reading lactnet for some time, so I had a quick look at
the last few weeks.  I have missed any post, if there has been one, on the
infant feeding consequences of the flooding in Queensland.

I hope that our Australian colleagues are able to contribute in some way
to helping to minimise the plight of artificially fed children in that
area, and are also able to document the consequences in a developed
country of the choice to formula feed.

Is there a forum where this is being discussed or is there anything that
anyone outside the country can do to support?

Magda Sachs
Public Health Manager, Salford, UK

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