[pronut-hiv] The requirements and problems with providing free formula in Africa (3)

["RuthRajendraRabi" <RuthRajendraRabi@netscape.net>]

Dear Stacia

I have been watching the discussion of replacement feeding with some 
interest.

The studies from South Africa -- which has much better infrastructure 
for procurement and supplies than most of sub-Saharan Africa -- that 
replacement fed infants there have run short of supplies of replacement 
feeds.  There are a whole host of reasons for this but essentially the 
underlying problem is one of inadequate procurement and logistics.

Storage of  ready to use feeds becomes a problem.

Demand for use of the infant feed for adults tea is another issue in 
some situations.

Poverty and acute need for cash for other purposes in the home, may 
likely lead to resale of prepared formula

The potential hugely damaging impact on breast feeding in the wider 
(probably non-HIV infected population) must not be forgotten.  Once 
replacement feeding becomes established, more and more mothers will find 
themselves pressured to replacement feed and "breast is best messages 
will get drowned out.  This can result in increased infant mortality in 
the community and is a tragedy in the making.

Yours,  Ruth Hope
Independent Consultant
North America

------ nordin@eomw.net wrote:

>What about using ready to feed infant formulas?  Would the only barriers be cost and potentially contaminating the formula by saving an open bottle 
>improperly or using dirty feeding cup/bottle.
>
>Has someone approached the big formula companies at part of their social 
>responsibility to produce a one serving ready-to-feed formula tailored to 
>the needs of infants in Africa and other similar settings?  It seems like 
>this issue is on the heart strings of many people and that there would be 
>some organization out there to champion this.
>
>Of course, I'd still like to pursue my other idea of producing local 
>formulas with local ingredients with local people, but I'm all out of ideas 
>to follow;  seems like I've hit all dead ends at this point.
>
>Stacia Nordin, RD
>Malawi, Africa
>
>
>  
>