Infant Feeding in Emergencies

"Do you know that your generous donations of breastmilk substitutes do more harm than good?"

A newly released publication produced by the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) asks this crucial question of policy makers, programme managers and field workers from agencies involved in relief work, food banks, journalists and others.

This 12-page document advises that in emergency and relief situations (this could include urban poor requiring the use of food banks in Canada and the US) breastfeeding is of critical importance: it saves lives. Artificial feeding in these difficult circumstances increases the risk of malnutrition, illness and infant death. When basic resources of clean water, sufficient fuel, adequate storage and clean and safe environments are lacking the use of breastmilk substitutes dramatically increases health risks.

Although such risks are evident in the numerous refugee camps where conflict dominates, infants born into urban poverty and homelessness in North American cities may suffer similar risks.

In July of 1997 Jordan Heikamp born to a 19-year-old homeless mother in the city of Toronto died due to starvation. His mother, lacking the information, medical monitoring and support needed to adequately care for and feed baby Jordan diluted his formula feedings. If the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative had been in place for baby Jordan and his mother could this tragedy have been averted? If trained community-based breastfeeding support had been available for his mother, would baby Jordan be alive today?

INFANT Feeding in Emergencies is available from INFACT Canada for $3.