Hi Pat
Having worked on an IFE programme for a short while after an emergency, I
would say, the message is DON'T SEND FORMULA, BABY FOOD OR BOTTLES AT ALL -
EVER.  (Sorry to shout but I want everyone to hear.)  These items put
babies' lives at significant risk.  If Infant formula is needed, it can be
procured locally much more quickly and more safely (local language
instructions; preprepared instructions) and only in the quantities needed.
Bottom line artificial feeding is rarely feasible, affordable, safe or
secure/sustainable in emergencies.  Artificially fed babies are at very high
risk of death.
Better to donate your $$ to an agency for the specific purpose of running an
IFE programme.  Ring and talk to them first to ascertain that they are
training breastfeeding counsellors, promoting wet-nursing, supporting
relactation and using artificial feeding only as a very last resort.
Cheers
Nina Berry
Australia 

-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pat Young
Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2008 10:58 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: VELB/infant feeding in emergencies

A lot of the discussion was about inappropriate formula supplies given in
disasters.

Infant & Young Children Feeding in Emergencies - IFE
10 million young children die per year around the world.  WHO estimates that
2 million lives could be saved by breastfeeding.

In disasters infants are at the highest risk of mortality.
Food stuffs sent to emergencies should not include formula.  Powder is most
dangerous.

What should be sent needs to be AFASS
Acceptable
Feasible
Affordable
Safe                        
Sustainable
I'm sure you can all figure what factors goes into AFASS - water sources,
finances, etc.  If a mom who is BF begins to use formula because it is
freely handed out, she doesn't have any way to properly prepare it or pay
for it long term and her breast milk supply declines and fails. The aid
workers with the magic cans will be gone long before the child can eat on
his/her own :-(
www.ennononline.net has a neat slide show on feeding infants and children in
emergencies.
www.ibfan.org

Of course we all know that the best thing is to feed mom so she can feed
baby/child!  Formula isn't well accepted by adults for nutrition (yuck
taste) so it ends up being fed to animals.

One of the messages I got as an American is to find out what is being done
at higher levels in US for disasters.  Of course the current financial
disaster, altho not made by Mother Nature, will impact infant feeding in the
US and around the world.
Many people do not realize that WIC free formula only sustains an infant in
the first 2-3 mo.  After that they only get a partial supply of what a baby
needs to grow.  As economic  times tighten over dilution  of formula becomes
a real potential.

I am happy to say that I heard in Russia that babies nurse at least a year
and I did not see formula blatantly on sale in the grocery stores I ventured
into.  Pat in SNJ

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