Blanket Distribution of Formula Milk in Emergencies

2024

Sep 17

Blanket Distribution of Formula Milk in Emergencies

Protecting Babies in an Emergency

In an emergency, food supplies are disrupted, there may be no clean water, overcrowding is often a problem and the health care system is likely to be stretched beyond breaking point.

Outbreaks of diarrhoea are very common and spread easily in these circumstances. Babies who are not breastfed are very likely to contract diarrhoea-causing illnesses from unclean water.

Breastfeeding parents may wonder how the stress of a disaster might affect milk production. It can be encouraging to know that experiencing a disaster will NOT cause your milk to disappear

But I cannot breastfeed if I’m stressed and scared during an emergency

Stress

does not prevent production of milk

BUT

may temporarily interfere with the flow of milk

Why is breastfeeding important especially in emergencies?

Babies who are breastfed have a secure and safe food supply, they are not exposed to disease causing bacteria and parasites and they receive antibodies and other disease fighting factors that help to prevent and treat illness

In emergency situations, donations for Breastmilk Substitutes should not be requested, accepted, or distributed in emergencies

But people are trying to help...

Artifical feeding is a last resort for non-breastfed infants,

Donations and unregulated distributions of these products can endanger infants (0-23 months) as they might be unsafe (expired, incorrect type, unreliable quality, etc.), overabundant, labeled in the wrong language, unsuitable for hygienic use during emergencies, and lacking the essential instructions.

What if a baby is in real need of milk and the mother is either ill or not around?

Infant and Young Child Feeding Specialist (IYCF) should be contacted to support lactating mothers.

An IYCF specialist will assess and explore, in priority order, the viability of re-lactation, wet nursing and donor human milk based on cultural context and acceptability to mothers before providing formula milk.

There are several decision-making tools that could be used by IYCF specialists as part of the Ministry of Public Health in a country or an NGO to plan and manage formula milk interventions during emergencies accordingly.