[CCIH-Haiti] Call for appropriate infant and young child feeding during the Haiti emergency

[Sharon Franzén]

Forwarded from Denise Lionetti, Project Director, Infant and Young Child
Nutrition (IYCN) Project:

 

Dear colleagues,

 

Our thoughts are with the victims and families affected by the earthquake
that struck Haiti.

 

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization,
and the World Food Program have released an important joint statement
calling for support for appropriate infant and young child feeding during
the Haiti emergency to prevent malnutrition, morbidity, and mortality among
children. 

 

The message emphasizes the following points:

*	Breastfeeding is the safest feeding option for infants during an
emergency. Every effort should be made to support mothers to breastfeed and
avoid the use of breastmilk substitutes, which should be a last resort only
after fully exploring safer options. 
*	Relactation should be prioritized for infants under six months of
age who are no longer breastfed. When this is not possible (e.g., for
orphans), or when skilled personnel identify a need for artificial feeding,
breastmilk substitutes must be accompanied by training for caregivers on
hygienic preparation and use. Liquid ready-to-use breastmilk substitutes are
preferred over powder mixes. 
*	In an emergency, the use of breastmilk substitutes can endanger
children’s lives and, in accordance with international guidelines, they
should not be donated. UNICEF is the coordinating agency in Haiti for the
appropriate use of breastmilk substitutes and can provide guidance to
organizations. 
*	Children older than six months of age require nutritious,
age-appropriate, and safe complementary foods in addition to breastmilk.
Priority should be given to providing local, culturally-acceptable foods.
When cooking facilities are unavailable, ready-to-use fortified foods are an
option. However, once cooking facilities have been set up, fortified blended
food is recommended.  

Download the statement at
http://www.iycn.org/resources-alphabetical.php#Haiti. 

 

Please share this information with colleagues working on relief efforts for
Haiti.

 

Sincerely,

 

Denise Lionetti, Project Director

Infant & Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) Project

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