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PiscesHaiti Needs Help, Not Baby Bottles
Guest blogger Kate Tuttle: The generosity of average people after a natural disaster -- even one occurring thousands of miles away -- is truly inspiring. In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti last January, we've witnessed acts of enormous caring, from doctors and nurses volunteering their time to construction workers traveling to help rebuild Port au Prince to everyday moms and dads sending donations of food, clothing and money. And the recent news that cholera -- a potentially deadly waterborne illness -- has now come to Haiti has sparked another round of giving. But charity isn't always so simple, and one of the most commonly requested donations -- baby bottles and formula -- can hurt far more than it helps, according to international aid workers.
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These are excellent points, but I do take some issue with the idea that Americans have a love/hate relationship with breastfeeding. Are there any significant numbers of people who hate breastfeeding on principle? No. But there may be significant numbers of mothers who hate lactivists making them feel bad about their choices (or lack thereof). I don’t think it’s even relevant to the post. The reasons why formula are not ideal in these circumstances are clear. Rather than stirring up more debate (and making this an attack on formula companies), how about putting put some recommendations for things people should donate?
Christy, I’m glad you liked the piece overall. I guess my point about the love/hate relationship with breastfeeding is that this is a country in which all the medical authorities tout its benefits and say it should be promoted, but then allow hospitals to undercut that message by providing free formula samples to mothers even before their babies are born, and the government mandates a very short, unpaid maternity leave, etc.
As for attacking formula companies, I’ll never apologize for that! I definitely don’t want to demonize formula-feeding moms or their babies, but the formula companies exploit women to make money, period.
I’d go to the international red cross site if seeking ideas for how to give. Typically they recommend money to a charity with boots-on-the-ground experience, like red cross or Partners in Health. Everyone wants to help by giving old clothes, but what I’ve read is that they are more trouble than they’re worth, in terms of international giving (still very much needed at the local level, though!)
This is a very old issue and has been a problem for years in Africa and other areas with unsafe water supplies. You mentioned that bottles and formula are among “the most commonly requested donations” but that international aid workers are warning against this. So then who is doing the “request”ing? You need to go further and say why so often international aid is driven by the agendas of US corporations, rather than the actual need on the ground. This isn’t limited to the formula companies; the US government often requires that any food aid it distributes overseas come from US producers. Which, incidentally, prevents local farmers/manufacturers from competing at all, and therefore keeps these places in the kind of deep poverty that requires food aid.
Hello. splendid job. I did not imagine this. This is a excellent story. Thanks!
Lovely website! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am taking your feeds also. %WEBSITE%
A unique perspective on how donations without education can wreck more havoc after a disaster. Clean water is the key and sustainable solutions like water wells (and breastmilk!)are needed.
Regards,
Kellie
viveharambee.org