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The Ministry of Health and Medical Services, National Disaster Management Office, UNICEF and WHO call for support for appropriate infant and young child feeding in the current emergency situation in Fiji, and caution about unnecessary and potential harmful donations and use of breast-milk substitutes.

During disaster or emergency situations such as floods and cyclones, disease and death rates among under-five children are usually higher than for any other age group; the younger the infant the higher the risk. Mortality risk is particularly high because of the combined impact of a greatly increased incidence of communicable diseases, diarrhea and malnutrition. Damages caused by natural disasters to the water and sanitation systems create a major risk of waterborne diseases for millions of people. Breastfeeding provides critical protection from infection in environments without safe water supply and sanitation.

Donations and procurement of breast-milk substitutes and other milk products

In accordance with internationally accepted guidelines and the Fiji Marketing Controls (Foods for Infants and Young Children) Regulation 2010, donations of infant formula, bottles and teats and other powdered or liquid milk and milk products should not be made. Experience with past emergencies in other countries has shown an excessive quantity of products, which are poorly targeted, endangering infants' lives. Any procurement of breast milk substitutes (BMS) should be based on careful needs assessment and in coordination with UNICEF, and in accordance with normal and routine procurement processes within the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. Breast-milk substitutes should adhere to Codex Alimentarius Standards.

Any distribution and use of breast-milk substitutes should be carefully monitored to ensure that only the designated infants receive the product.

Misconception: During emergencies, mothers can no longer breastfeed adequately because of stress or inadequate nutrition

Although stress can temporarily interfere with the flow of breast-milk, it is not likely to inhibit breast-milk production, provided mothers and infants remain together and are supported to initiate and continue breastfeeding. Mothers who lack food or who are malnourished can still breastfeed. Provision of adequate fluids and food for mothers must be a priority to help protect their health and well-being as well as that of their young children.

In Fiji, most mothers initiate breastfeeding. During emergencies it is critical to encourage and support mothers to initiate breastfeeding immediately after delivery, to exclusively breastfeed up to six months and for those with infants below six months who 'mix feed', to revert to exclusive breastfeeding if possible. Non-breastfed infants are at especially high risk and need early identification and targeted skilled support, including re-establishing breastfeeding (relactation). No food or liquid other than breast milk, not even water, is needed to meet an infant's nutritional and fluid requirements during the first six months of life.

Basic interventions to facilitate breastfeeding include prioritizing mothers with young children for shelter, food, security, and water and sanitation. This will enable mother-to-mother support, providing specific space for skilled breastfeeding counseling and support to maintain or re-establish lactation. Traumatized and depressed mothers may have difficulty responding to their infants and may require particular mental and emotional support. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services, UNICEF, WHO and other organizations involved in infant feeding in emergencies will support training of staff on individual assessment of the best options for feeding infants, as well as education and support of caregivers on optimal infant feeding in these emergency circumstances.

Feeding of the non-breastfed child less than six months of age

The priority to feed infants less than six months of age who are not breastfed should be re-lactation. If this is not possible or when artificial feeding is indicated by health providers or infant feeding counselors, BMS is necessary and must be accompanied by training on hygiene, preparation and use to minimize their associated risks. When breast-milk substitutes are used, skilled support by appropriately trained staff should be provided to caregivers on how to use the breast-milk substitute safely and how to feed with a sterilized cup and spoon. Bottles and teats should not be provided as they are more difficult to clean. All labels should be removed from BMS before providing to mothers. Artificial feeding in an emergency carries high risks of malnutrition, illness and death and should be considered as a last resort when other safer options have been ruled out.

Complementary feeding of children above six months of age

Children from the age of six months require nutrient-rich, age-appropriate and safe complementary foods in addition to breast milk. Priority should be placed on locally available, culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate and age-appropriate foods. Micronutrient powders that can be added to local foods, emergency rations or blended foods will also improve dietary quality. A monitoring system to ensure the appropriate targeting, distribution and use of food and food products for infants and young children should be established.

Treatment of severe acute malnutrition

Treatment of severely malnourished children, whether facility or community based, should be implemented in accordance with international standards and best practices, and closely monitored. Specially formulated therapeutic milk F75 and F100 and ready-to-use therapeutic food are required.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services, National Disaster Management Office, UNICEF and WHO strongly urge all who are involved in funding, planning and implementing the emergency response in Fiji to avoid unnecessary illness and death by promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding and by preventing uncontrolled distribution and use of breast-milk substitutes.