Save the Children Launches Radio Outreach Program in Haiti to Promote
Newborn, Infant Health

 

http://www.savethechildren.org/newsroom/2010/radio-outreach-program-in.html

 

Local Broadcasts in Creole Urge New Mothers to Nourish Infants Through
Breast Milk; Cautions Against Baby Formula Made with Dirty Water

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Jan. 25, 2010) — The global humanitarian organization
Save the Children is supporting efforts to promote breastfeeding among new
mothers in Haiti to ensure the protection of the youngest and most
vulnerable survivors of the devastating January 12 earthquake. 

The agency has translated internationally recognized public health messages
into Creole, which are currently being broadcast on local radio stations. 

Critical Awareness Campaign Available to Health-focused Groups in Haiti

Save the Children is making these critical communications available to other
health-focused groups that are also working with local communities affected
by the disaster. Its health staff in Haiti will translate other public
health messages over the coming days and coordinate with partners and
communities to spread the word about keeping children healthy in the wake of
the quake.

Save the Children also is training midwives, health workers and nutritional
educators to reach out to pregnant and new mothers at makeshift camps in
Port-au-Prince, Léogâne and Jacmel.  

"Newborns and infants are very vulnerable during emergencies, especially
from diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition. But mothers can take simple steps
to protect their baby's health through exclusive and proper breastfeeding,"
said Kathryn Bolles, Save the Children's emergency health and nutrition
director. "Breast milk provides essential nutrients and strengthens a baby's
immunity, protecting the baby from other illnesses." 

Health Risks from Infant Formulas and Other Supplements 

The health messages encourage mothers to exclusively breastfeed babies under
6 months of age, and to continue to breastfeed children until age 2. 

Mothers are cautioned against giving babies under 6 months of age anything
but breast milk — including water, infant formula, powdered milk or solid
food — because of the risks from diarrhea, one of the leading killers of
children globally, and because of the risk of becoming malnourished, which
leaves babies more susceptible to other illnesses.  

"Mothers may not be aware of the threats that infant formula and other
supplements pose to their babies. Tainted water used to mix the formula and
unsanitary bottles or cups can cause a baby to get sick with diarrhea, which
can kill," said Bolles. "We hope more Haitian mothers will hear our health
messages and be encouraged to breastfeed their babies.  We also are
suggesting mothers seek out support and counseling from organizations like
Save the Children if they are having difficulty breastfeeding their baby."

The awareness campaign also seeks to dispel the myths that may discourage
mothers from breastfeeding, among them stress or lack of proper food will
cause a mother to produce bad milk or no milk. Instead, mothers are
encouraged to breastfeed more often, which will allow them to produce more
milk for their baby.  

Extremely Poor Survival Rates for Haitian Children Prior to Earthquake

Even before the earthquake, survival rates for young Haitian children were
the worst in the Western Hemisphere, with nearly 1 in 10 children dying
before the age of 5 from preventable and treatable causes like diarrhea and
pneumonia.   

Save the Children supports the World Health Organization (WHO)
recommendations that children should be breastfed exclusively for the first
six months of life to ensure their most favorable growth and health. WHO,
UNAIDS and UNICEF guidelines only recommend "replacement feeding"
(breastmilk substitute) when it is "acceptable, feasible, affordable,
sustainable, and safe."  

Save the Children has worked in Haiti since 1978 and currently has more than
200 staff in the country.

Please
<https://secure.savethechildren.org/01/web_e_haiti_earthquake_10?source=hp_f
b_haitidonate&WT.ac=hp_fb_haitidonate&dcsref=http://www.savethechildren.org/
>  Help Us Respond to the Haiti Emergency by Donating Now

Donate any amount at www.savethechildren.org
<http://www.savethechildren.org/>  or by calling 1-800-728-3843 or
1-203-221-4030.

OR DONATE $10 BY TEXTING "SAVE" to 20222 ( U.S. Only).

Learn more about our emergency
<http://www.savethechildren.org/emergencies/latin-america-caribbean/haiti/ea
rthquake-10/?WT.mc=0110_hp_fb_haiti>  response to the earthquake in Haiti.

 <http://www.savethechildren.org/> Save the Children is the leading,
independent organization that creates lasting change for children in need in
the United States and around the world. Save the Children USA is a member of
the International Save the Children Alliance, a global network of 29
independent Save the Children organizations working to ensure the well-being
and protection of children in more than 120 countries. Follow us on Twitter
<http://twitter.com/savethechildren?source=hp_sn_twitter>  and Facebook
<http://www.facebook.com/savethechildren?source=hp_sn_facebook> .

 


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