As a Liaison for the Development and Action Committee for LLLI I just
attended a Basics II - Improving Child Survival through Nutrition:
Science, Policy, and Programs presented by MSH (Management Sciences for
Health) Seminar today.  I have been attending many meetings since 1995
and have watched The IMCI - USAID Program being developed and
implemented. The few minutes discussing Breastfeeding back then has now
been replaced with Breastfeeding leading the list of strategies for
(ENA) Essential Nutrition Actions. It was a very heartwarming afternoon.
      As reported by R. Black MD, MPH Johns Hopkins...School of Public
Health the primary measure of health status is the LOSS OF HEALTHY LIFE(
akin to the RISKS OF NOT BREASTFEEDING)  from certain conditions such as
prematurity and poor nutrition status of the child.  The consequences of
poor nutrition is due to the absence of breastfeeding promotion,
support, and education. In essence the LOSS OF a HEALTHY LIFE IS from
NOT exclusively BREASTFEEDING for the first 6 months (with complimentary
feeds only when indicated).  Is this too negative?  It certainly made a
statement that no one could refute as reported by the ENA reports for
Benin, India, Senegal, Madagascar, and Hondorus. We in the US are not in
the same percentage bracket for underweight/malnourishment morbidity,
and mortality as these countries but we also have pockets of our own
population whose nutritional status is as bad as these children.  Even
marginal malnutrition has major consequences for our children.
      So should we keep the statement about the Risks of not
Breastfeeding?  Most certainly.
Hope everyone gets the opportunity to feel the glow that one gets when
you hear and witness the results from concerted efforts to support and
promote Breastfeeding.  Ann Cagigas RN, Ma, IBCLC

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