I read about this in a magazine and they do ask for volunteers, so I hope it is ok to post. Perhaps someone on the list would want to participate in future missions. Laurie Wheeler Ron Rosato Dr. Charles Rene' Christ the Healer Program Association Haitienne de Developpement Humain, Inc c/o Methodist Hospital Caritas International 5620 Read Blvd c/o Methodist Hospital New Orleans LA 70127 5620 Read Blvd New Orleans LA 70127 I wrote similar letters to each program: I read of your medical missions to Nicaragua [the other was Haiti] in the Summer 97 VIM & VIGOR. If you haven't already, please consider asking for help from the lactation community. Nicaragua is definitely a place where breastfeeding education and promotion should be addressed with both the general public and the healthcare providers there. I do not know what the status of breastfeeding is there, but a near 100% initiation rate, with nursing for 2 yrs and beyond (as WHO recommends), should make a tremendous difference in the health of mothers and babies. The article mentions poverty, high pregnancy rates, malnutrition, inadequate sewerage, a lack of hot water, having to reuse supplies, limited infection control, trash burning in the streets, and high rates of asthma as problems there. Breastfeeding would help with all of this. Mothers breastfeeding optimally experience amenorrhea and better child spacing (fewer pregnancies). Breastfed babies receive optimum nutrition and experience less morbidity and mortality. Breastfeeding is easier than artificial feeding, much less costly, produces little or no waste, and really is the only safe choice when safe water supplies are not available. etc etc