Milk Shipment to Manila, Philippines

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why did International Breast Milk Project decide to send milk to Manila, Philippines?
A. We receive an urgent request for donated breast milk to feed infants affected by Typhoon Ondoy. After speaking with the local Milk Bank at Philippine General Hospital, we were able to determine that providing donor breast milk would make a significant impact in the lives of these babies, and felt compelled to do so.

Q. Who will receive the breast milk and how will it be distributed?
A. Currently the milk bank in Manila has enough milk to provide for the majority of infants in their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, however, they have received requests for infants with diarrhea and malnutrition in the evacuation centers and for orphaned infants, and other situations where a mother’s own milk is not available. Once the milk arrives at the milk bank in Manila, they will work with UNICEF to distribute the milk through their Breast Milk Missions.

Q. Why Breast Milk?
A. The World Health Organization has supported the Philippines Department of Health who has stated that they will not accept infant formula donations in wake of Typhoon Ondoy.
See press release below:
http://www.wpro.who.int/media_centre/press_releases/pr_20091005.htm

According to Dr. Mianne Silvestre, FAAP
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, UP College of Medicine
Consultant Neonatologist, UP-PGH
Head, Lactation Unit and Human Milk Bank,
Section of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, UP-PGH

"Even under normal circumstances, the formula fed infant runs at least an 8-10 fold risk of dying from diarrhea compared to the exclusively breastfed infant. These dangers are magnified in overcrowded, dirty evacuation centers where mothers have no clean water, no mechanism to sterilize feeding bottles and no access to clean toilets. Moreover, if given a well-intentioned free tin of milk powder, the tendency will be to dilute it improperly so that the tin lasts.

The potential harm of these donations has to be communicated. In these contexts, kindness and generosity have to be coupled with responsibility.

Our breastfeeding missions have as an over all objective the promotion and protection of breastfeeding. Strategies include on-site breastfeeding counseling (correction of poor positioning/attachment), dispelling misconceptions about breastfeeding under stress/hunger, relactation, wet nursing, and provision of pasteurized breast milk for priority recipients (e.g. like orphaned infants, diarrheic/dehydrated/malnourished infants, twins whose mothers need a "boost" while their is receiving lactation support etc.) and for infants older than 6 months and children, cooking demonstrations using available vegetables like squash, sweet potato etc."

Q. How did the breast milk get to Manila, Philippines?
A. Thanks to the support of Quick International Courier (QIC), and Prolacta Bioscience, the milk was packaged frozen and arrived safely at the local milk bank in Manila. Understanding the urgency and impact of this milk donation, QIC graciously donated the cost of shipping.

Q. Does International Breast Milk Project plan on sending more milk to the Philippines, or to other victims of natural disaster?
A. Our vision is that every infant in the world will have access to donor human milk as a first choice when mom's own milk is not available. When we are in a position to help infants in need, regardless of the country, we will do our best to provide milk. Services like these are possible thanks to our generous donors who support our vision. If you would like to help us keep programs like this one available, click here to make a donation.