Child Nutrition
In Vietnam, the number of babies fed exclusively on breast milk during the first six months of their lives has halved within ten years. On the other hand, sales of infant formula are booming. Influenced by advertising, many mothers no longer attempt to breastfeed (or stop breastfeeding too early) in favour of the bottle. As a result, many infants are dying of malnourishment and diarrhoea.
Wemos is lobbying for compliance with the international code of practice that seeks to restrict the marketing of infant formula.
Breast milk is free. It is the only complete food that infants really need up to the age of six months. It has been proved that promoting breastfeeding is one the most effective ways of reducing child mortality and malnourishment in children. Advertising breast milk substitutes or handing out free samples of infant formula undermines breastfeeding. Another disadvantage in developing countries is that the water used to mix the formula is often of a very poor quality.
In 1981, the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes. The Code was drawn up by representatives of healthcare providers, consumers, governments and manufacturers of infant food, and aims to provide safe and suitable food for infants. Although countries like Vietnam incorporated the Code into their national legislation many years ago, the situation is far from ideal in practice. For example, staff working at women’s clinics advise mothers to give their baby the bottle, and receive commission from the manufacturer for every product they sell. Dutch producers of formula-related products are also involved in this practice.
Activities
Wemos considers it unacceptable that Dutch companies are jeopardizing the health of babies, and is fighting to protect and promote breastfeeding by:
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advocating compliance with the WHO Code;
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documenting violations of the WHO Code by breast milk substitute manufacturers, and confronting them with their conduct;
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sharing research findings with politicians and the media; and
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working intensively with Dutch, European and international experts and partner organizations, including UNICEF.
Lobby results
Wemos has always been a keen supporter and advocate of breastfeeding. At present, Wemos is monitoring the WHO Code in partnership with UNICEF. Our findings are expected in the second half of 2011.
More info
Last update: October 13, 2011
