Re: [ozmidwifery] ER

[Kirsten Blacker]

in brief...   Carter (on of the main characters, a doctor) is working with MSF in the Congo. One of his patients has HIV and is in end stage AIDS. The patient's wife (8mo pregnant) and kids all test positive and Carter is trying to get the mum on HIV meds (which of course he flies in directly from the US, but that's another story) to try and prevent the next baby from being HIV positive. He tells her she can't breastfeed because of the transmission, and that formula is "just fine" and they can supply the powder to her. One of the other MSF workers pulls him aside and says, "you can't ask her to formula feed, where she is going back to there is no clean water, and 50% of these babies die from gastro in the first six months".   Admittedly it ignores the recent research on the saftely of exclusive BF for HIV mums in the first six months with abrups weaning (no I don't have the reference on me) but at least it made the point about the danger of formula promotion in third world countries.   One in the eye for Nestle I say ;)   Kirsten ----- Original Message ----- From: barbara glare & chris bright To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, April 17, 2004 8:22 AM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] ER No,   Tell us   Barb ----- Original Message ----- From: Kirsten Blacker To: ozmid Sent: Saturday, April 17, 2004 9:38 AM Subject: [ozmidwifery] ER Did anyone else catch Thursday's episode of ER? Interesting commentary on the use of formula in 3rd world countries, in HIV mums   Kirsten