Photo: UNICEF
A series of natural disasters has his Asia in recent months leading to increased concern for child malnutrition, as food security rises. There is no question that optimal infant and young child feeding is essential for optimal growth and development. Optimal feeding includes; breastfeeding exclusively for six months, and providing appropriate complementary foods with continued breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond.
However in times of natural disasters, conflict and displacement this is often overlooked. Often breastfeeding and child health is impeded during emergencies, due to unsolicited, or ‘uncontrolled’ donations of breast-milk substitutes. These donations, according to UNICEF and WHO, undermined child health efforts, as was seen following the 7.9 magnitude earthquake in West Sumatra on 30 September. “UNICEF Indonesia, worked with the country’s Health Ministry, and contacted local and national radio stations to broadcast requests to stop milk-substitute donations.”
“It’s a huge problem, and the problem lies in the lack of knowledge among the donors on the potential harm,” said Winoto. (IRIN)
Large numbers of infants are suffering serious bouts of diarrhea, and in some cases dying, from infant formula provided in emergency situations. Formula is often diluted with unsanitary water, which not only decreases the nutritional value of the formula, but also leads to an increase in the number of cases of diarrhea and dehydration. Additionally this puts a strain on emergency healthcare facilities, only exacerbating the situation, as inundated parents line up at clinics which are already overwhelmed with infants who have fallen ill due to being formula fed with unsanitary water. Therefore all UN agencies, aid groups, and governments are being urged to ensure women are not automatically given infant formula during emergency situations, and are encouraged to breast-feed.
In the wake of rising food prices and soaring malnutrition the need to promote breast feeding has never been greater. While the health benefits of breastfeeding have long since been getting the spotlight in various campaigns, as I have previously reported in post such as; Fighting For Infant Health in Indonesia, Breast Feeding Needed to Fight Child Growing Malnutrition, Infants Rights to Nutrition, Is Breastfeeding heading for extinction in the Philippines?
While the battle to see that breastfeeding is made a key element in a child’s early nutritional development, and child malnutrition is decreased, is essential in any climate. In a climate of nothing other than continually rising prices, breast milk is the one staple that is free.
Breastfeeding however continues to be a battle, though one that is increasingly being won, as seen in Mali, where “baby friendly” hospitals have created support groups to increase exclusive breastfeeding, and steer mothers away from feeding infants alternatives such as tea, water, cows milk and formula.
The centre’s midwife, Djeneba Samaké, told IRIN that at baptisms a mothers’ support group talks about breastfeeding. She said economics helps promote breastfeeding: mother’s milk is free. “But even the richest women here who consider powdered milk as a status symbol and sign of progress are now choosing to breastfeed exclusively.” (IRIN).
