The United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF) provides in Haiti "baby tent" to provide mothers and their babies a safe and quiet place for breastfeeding.
Many beliefs have spread after the earthquake of January 12. According to these myths, the stress would cease production of milk or, poor maternal nutrition lead to a decrease in milk quality unsafe for the child. Traumatized by the earthquake or frightened by these urban legends, many mothers have stopped breastfeeding within.
Mothers therefore use more powdered milk to feed their children. Access to safe water is limited, the mixing of milk from unsafe water causes diarrhea dangerous for children and can cause premature death of infants.
Faced with this danger, UNICEF has installed 12 "baby tent" in Port-au-Prince to encourage mothers to breastfeed and train them on basic knowledge of health and hygiene. For children who have lost their mothers in the earthquake, solutions of milk powder ready for distribution to parents survivors. The mixing is done with water, there is greater risk of diarrhea.
UNICEF estimates that exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life could prevent the deaths of at least 1.3 million children under five each year worldwide. Exclusive breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for a newborn up to six months. It reduces the incidence and severity of infectious diseases and morbidity and mortality.
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