Deadly side effects of formula validates
Breastfeeding as a safer and healthier alternative
According to a recent announcement by the UAE Ministry of Health, urgent
measures were taken to stop the circulation of certain brands of artificial
formula after they were found to be contaminated by a bacteria that causes
botulism - a deadly condition that could lead to paralysis in babies.
The warning has been sent to Bee’ah and stakeholders, the
Ministry of Environment and Water, the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, and
the Department of Food and Health at Dubai Municipality. The problem has spread
across the UAE’s borders, as the Saudi Commission has discovered whey protein
that is contaminated with the botulism-causing bacteria in artificial formula
shipments.
Dr Hessa Khalfan Al Ghazal, Director of the Executive
Committee for the Sharjah Baby Friendly Emirate Campaign, issued a strong plea
to all mothers to treat this as a life-and-death matter for their babies: “It
is our duty to ensure the safety and well-being of our children, and situations
like this are exactly what Sharjah Baby Friendly Campaign has been tirelessly
advocating against. This contamination only re-enforces the risks of giving
babies artificial formula, and is further motivation for mothers to exclusively
breastfeed for the first 6 months and continue breastfeeding with supplementary
foods for two years, as recommended by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF.”
A thorough investigation is currently underway as UAE
authorities attempt to ascertain the exact “Ground Zero” or source of the
contamination.
As well Dr. Al Ghazal added that: “The campaign warns mothers to
ensure the safety of their food and to beware of giving them foods may cause
injury serious health complications, and highlights the importance of
breastfeeding and carry health benefits to the health of mother and child
alike. "
The World Health Organization strongly recommends that mothers
who genuinely cannot breastfeed for various reasons should follow these precautions
to prevent bacterial transmission: mothers should thoroughly clean and
sterilize the feeding bottle, the surface area for preparation and their own
hands. Only drinking water boiled and
cooled to not less than 70°C (kept half an hour after boiling)
before adding the formula. The bottle should be cooled by holding it under
running tap water. After making sure the milk is no longer too hot for the baby,
feeding may then start. Anything that has not been consumed within two hours of
preparation should be thrown away for the baby’s safety.
Following this serious national concern, Sharjah Baby
Friendly Emirate Campaign is distributing educational pamphlets and posters to
guide non-breastfeeding mothers in the “Safe Preparation of Artificial Milk”, to lessen the health risks
associated with feeding children formula. The distribution will cover all
health facilities, nurseries and workplaces that are registered with the
campaign throughout the Emirate of Sharjah.
The Sharjah Baby Friendly Emirate Campaign was initiated in
March 2012 under the generous patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Budoor bint
Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development
Authority (Shurooq) and President of the Campaign. The campaign encompasses
four initiatives: Breastfeeding-Friendly Nurseries, Mother and Baby-Friendly
Public Places, Mother-Friendly Workplaces and Baby-Friendly Health Facilities.
The campaign is sponsored by Sharjah Islamic Bank.
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