When mothers
need a breastmilk
replacement how does Health Canada consider the use
of commercial infant formula products to be
safer that the use
of peer - to - peer informed milk sharing?
This fact
needs to be continually reiterated to decision makers as otherwise manufacturers
of breast milk substitutes will capitalise on HIV infection as a reason for promoting free samples
of their formula.10 It is extraordinary that the Wall Street Journal painted the baby food manufacturers as heroes poised to save African children from certain death because
of their offer to donate free formula to HIV infected mothers.11 The WHO recommends avoidance
of breast feeding by HIV infected mothers only if
replacement feeding is feasible,
safe, sustainable, and affordable — otherwise exclusive breast feeding is recommended during the first six months
of life.12 Non-infected women must be given access to credible information, quality care, and support, in order to empower them to make informed decisions regarding feeding
of their infant.13