<<Two of the goals are related to breastfeeding...the ones addressing maternal mortality and infant mortality.>> I believe that keeping the focus on breastfeeding will help with at least SIX of the Millennium Development Goals - #1 (poverty alleviation), #3 (gender issues/empowerment), #4 (reduce child mortality), #5 (improve maternal health), #6 (combat HIV, malaria and *other diseases*) and #7 (sustainability/environmental protection). There was a Countdown to 2015 meeting in Cape Town in April, to coincide with a meeting of international parliamentarians across the way. Disgusted at the reports that South Africa is one of the 12 countries that is worse off since the goals were set, I tried to get an invitation as an individual working in the field - no luck. Eventually my contacts in several organisations set to work and at the 11th hour a colleague and I had reluctant invitations. All we needed was a seat somewhere, unlike accommodation and transport as some delegates got, but we also had a very nice lunch each day and reams of papers, charts. Would that the dying mothers and babies got half as much. It was eye-opening. Breastfeeding was a glaring hole in the proceedings, despite being a major component of maternal and child health, let alone poverty alleviation, empowerment and environmental sustainability. While there were lovely posters all round the walls, not one included breastfeeding (even in the mother baby pairs pictured). Our written submission to include breastfeeding in the proceedings' final document was ignored. Apparently, "We are not doing breastfeeding this year." Even the recognition of the impact of HIV on the goals was belatedly added. I was struck by the number of well-fed, well-dressed, well-travelled men who got up to beg for aid for their countries to achieve these goals, without any realisation of how they themselves are keeping the money from trickling down to women and children. These governmental representatives have no idea that attainment of the Millennium Development goals includes their own efforts - beautifully pointed out by the Tanzanian representative Catherine Sango. A highlight of the meeting was the wonderful support from The Lancet, and the brilliant speech by Richard Horton, the Editor-in-Chief. Can he be targetted for further publicity during this campaign? There are also excellent programmes around the world, but one senses so much fragmentation, and "only if budgets allow, after defence, pomp and ceremony." Jacquie Nutt Whose municipality had ZERO capital budget for health last time she looked. *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome