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