Feeding Infants in Emergencies:

Breastfeeding Matters Now

What is an emergency?• While COVID-19 is a global

pandemic and an obvious emergency, refugees live in an ongoing state of emergency

In an emergency…..

• People lack basic necessities

• Risks around reliable power and clean water

• The risk of infection goes up

• Items like formula are too expensive, or disappear completely

What are priorities in an emergency?• Health

• Food

Those in power may give advice that is not realistic

• “Use hand sanitizer”

• “Wear a face mask”

• “Get tested”

• “Sleep in a separate room if you are sick”

• “See the doctor”

Feeding infant formula safely in emergencies is not realistic either

• Boil the water

• Sterilize the bottles

• Read the instructions

• Refrigerate it

• Throw away unused formula

• Do all this 8-10 times a day……………

Breastfeeding is critical without other health basics

• No vaccinations?

• No antibiotics or medicine?

• No doctors?

• No family support?

• Breastfeed to keep the baby as healthy as possible!

In the short term, breastfeeding prevents acute outcomes

• When babies aren’t breastfed: • Babies get sick• Babies and families

have to go to hospitals or clinics

• If babies get hungry, mothers feed foods that are not good for young babies

• More sick babies

Even more important….• Breastfeeding prevents

against illness

• The antibodies in the mother’s milk go direct to the child and protect them against disease