The Ministry of Health, in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO), warned on Tuesday (10) that breast milk substitutes should not be distributed in humanitarian aid to flood victims, advocating instead for breastfeeding and support for mothers.
“Breast Milk Substitutes (BMS), including infant formula, follow-on formula, powdered milk, bottles, and teats, should not be included in general distributions during emergency responses in Mozambique,” reads a joint statement prepared by the four institutions.
In the document, the entities clarify that “children, from pregnancy through to 2 years of age, are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition and other diseases. Breastfeeding is crucial for children’s survival, especially for the youngest.”
According to these organizations, during emergency periods, breastfeeding and support for mothers become even more essential. “Even when mothers are stressed, exhausted, dehydrated, hungry, or ill, and without adequate counseling and support, the risk of unsafe feeding practices increases, including the use of breast milk substitutes.”
“Factors such as fragile mental health, lack of adequate food, absence of social support, indiscriminate distribution of infant formula and foods high in sugar, salt, and fats, loss of livelihoods, and myths related to feeding practices can worsen the situation,” they explain.
The institutions stress that support is fundamental to ensure children’s survival, growth, and development, as well as to prevent malnutrition and other diseases that may contribute to child mortality, emphasizing that humanitarian interventions must also “follow national infant feeding guidelines and regulations, as well as the National Code for the Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes.”
“We call on all humanitarian response teams and staff to identify the needs of pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers and provide appropriate protection and support so they can continue breastfeeding. We also urge relevant actors to survey children and infants under 2 years of age who are not receiving breast milk, or cannot receive it, and refer them to specialized Ministry of Health technicians for proper follow-up,” they state.
It is also important, they argue, to support mothers living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in receiving their antiretroviral medications and maintaining adherence to treatment, and to ensure access to safe, appropriate, and nutritious complementary foods for children from 6 months of age, along with information on their correct use.
Last week, UNICEF announced it needs 34 million dollars to respond to the humanitarian crisis caused by floods affecting several provinces of Mozambique since the beginning of the year. The amount aims to ensure assistance to displaced populations over the next six months, covering the provinces of Gaza, Maputo, and part of Sofala.
Updated data from the National Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction (INGD) indicate that since the start of the rainy season in October, 844,000 people have been affected nationwide, with 153 deaths and 254 injuries recorded. Given the severity of the situation, the Government declared a national red alert on January 16. Currently, 77 accommodation centers are active, hosting 76,251 displaced people.
Since January 7, 229 health units, 316 schools, and five bridges have also been damaged. In the agricultural sector, the floods affected 440,842 hectares of farmland, of which 275,405 were declared lost, impacting 314,780 farmers. The death of 408,115 head of livestock—including cattle, goats, and poultry—has also been estimated.
Source: Diário Económico
