Hi Pam,
Australia currently has an inquiry into breastfeeding being held by the
federal govt. This is one of the issues I have raised in my submission. The
trouble is that we don't collect decent statistics on infant feeding and we
really need this to change...ie collect stats regularly and collect good
stats (it appears that my state health dept found that "exclusive
breastfeeding" rates had increased but "exclusive breastfeeding" was based
on up to 3 year recall and appears that it was defined as baby breastfeeding
and not receiving other foods every single day- absurd and useless). People
need to start complaining to those who can do something about this. Make
sure that it becomes a priority (Aussies, have you asked your fed MP why the
ABS says that collecting infant feeding stats is not a priority).
Karleen Gribble
Australia


> Where are the government regulating agencies who should be DOING
> something about this??  I've just seen a map of the world showing
> shaded areas for breastfeeding rates.  Amazingly, the industrialized
> countries (W & N Europe, N America, Canada, Australia) are blank
> because these countries are somehow not required to report their
> stats on breastfeeding initiation to the international health
> agencies.  How can this be?  Why are the world's health watchdogs
> turning a blind eye to this omission, instead of requiring reports
> from all countries, as necessary health indicators?  My guess is that
> it's because bottle-feeding is so much a part of the culture of
> countries that set international standards that it pleases everyone
> NOT to characterize breastfeeding as a medical matter.

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