This booklet shares some basic, up-to-date information. In an emergency this information is crucial because during difficult times many other factors threaten babies' and young children's health. Breastfeeding can protect them from much of the harm. Artificial feeding must be avoided as much as possible, but if it is unavoidable it must be done with the greatest care.
No one wants to experience an emergency or difficult situations, but when it does happen, many people find they have more strength and initiative than they believed they had. Many women who once thought they could not produce enough milk, breastfeed successfully during emergencies. They feel proud when they realize how much they have contributed to their children's health and survival. If this booklet has helped you to be one of those women, please share your knowledge and experience with others. When an emergency ends, it is still important to support breastfeeding. Only when it becomes the standard method of infant feeding everywhere during untroubled times, can we be surer that an emergency will not be such a threat to our babies' health and lives.
The information in this booklet comes from international experts on breastfeeding, including health professionals, scientists and breast-feeding mother-to-mother support groups. Please contact WHO or UNICEF (addresses below) if you want more information.
Dr Aileen Robertson
Acting Regional Adviser
Nutrition
Policy, Infant Feeding and Food Security (NIF)
WHO Regional Office for
Europe
Scherfigsvej 8
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø
Tel: (+45) 39 17 13
62
Fax: (+45) 39 17 18 54
e-mail: aro@who.dk
Ms Hind Khatib
Coordinator, Baby-Friendly Hospital
Initiative
UNICEF
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva
10
Switzerland
Tel: 41 22 909 51 11
Fax: 41 22 909 59 00
e-mail:
hkhatib@unicef.ch