Stop using formula milk for your pikinini. They deserve only the best — and that can only be breastmilk

It’s something that comes naturally to every new mother. It’s scientifically proven to be life-nourishing beyond anything artificial, and is safe for mothers and babies.

I’m talking about breastmilk.

But sadly, some babies are deprived of this life-sustaining gift from nature. Instead, they opt for formula milk, an artificial, unnatural, sometimes contaminated powder that increases the risk of illness and death of your children.

Mothers and expectant mothers, you may ask why breastmilk is the best for your baby? Breastmilk contains thousands of distinct biological chemicals such as antibodies, enzymes, hormones, and dynamic nutrient content that protect your baby and help them optimally grow and develop. Breastmilk has all the nutrients your baby needs for their first six months, and remains beneficial until at least your baby’s second birthday.

Exclusively breastfed babies are more resistant to getting infected and when they do, they tend to get less severe diarrhoea, respiratory infections, neonatal sepsis and ear infections. Later in life, they suffer much less often from noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and obesity. Breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests and development assessments. Breastfeeding also benefits mothers by supporting recovery after childbirth and reducing their risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

Every family that successfully breastfed can tell you their own story of challenges, maybe to the point of where they considered terminating breastfeeding prematurely. Many mothers think they don’t have enough milk, but science has shown that virtually all mothers can breastfeed. In fact, a study^[1] I oversaw spanning eight countries demonstrated that babies who were kept in skin-to-skin contact with their mother for at least 90 minutes immediately after birth were 3 times more likely to initiate exclusive breastfeeding than those deprived of skin-to-skin contact.

Successful breastfeeding takes patience, dedication and supportive environments. The challenges are many. My wife and I can attest to this. We spent countless sleepless nights ensuring our baby was breastfed. I accompanied my wife to doctor appointments for various related ailments . That said, my wife and I cannot express the joy enough of seeing our son grow and thrive. He is amazing and we join a chorus of families who successfully breastfed, confirming that the time invested, and challenges overcome were worth it.

For more than 150 years, infant formula companies have tried to imitate breastmilk. Unfortunately, no artificially produced added chemicals individually or in combination, approach the health benefits of breastfeeding. The bad news about infant formula is worse. Infant formula powder is sometimes contaminated with dangerous bacteria during industrial processing. Unsafe water and poor sanitation often contaminate infant formula during mixing or cleaning of bottles, further exposing babies to harmful pathogens. Formula milk is also expensive. My 2012 study^[2] in the Philippines showed that aside from the expense spent on formula, formula-buying families had spent three times as much on medical care compared with non-formula-buying families with young children. These expenses were aside from absenteeism caring for sick children and the risk of childhood death and illness. Families, you have enough to worry about investing in your children’s education and social development. Spend your hard-earned income wisely.

That’s why it saddens me to see infant formula on store shelves. Why do we expose babies to risks of infections and death? Why do we even consider this artificial product as an option?

Making things worse is the inappropriate marketing of infant formula, which undermines efforts to improve breastfeeding rates and duration globally. The rise of digital marketing of formula milk and baby foods threatens breastfeeding efforts.

A study by WHO and UNICEF showed that more than half of parents and pregnant women (51%) surveyed for a WHO/UNICEF report say they were targeted with marketing from formula milk companies, much of which is in breach of international standards on infant feeding practices. Our study showed exposure to marketing was associated with a doubling of use of infant formula and those who started infant formula were 6 times as likely to terminate breastfeeding before their first birthday.^[3]

Thankfully, Member States are taking firm action against this. At this year’s World Health Assembly, governments, including Solomon Islands, agreed to expand the provisions of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, also known as The Code, to tackle the digital marketing of formula milk and baby foods.

The Resolution calls for robust efforts to develop, strengthen, and coordinate the regulation of digital marketing to protect children’s health. It also calls on countries to build effective systems for monitoring and enforcement. The Resolution covers the marketing of formula milks, teats, and bottles, as well as foods for babies and young children.

I am confident that with strong support from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and partners, the Resolution will help foil the harmful tactics of formula milk companies directed at new parents and pregnant women.

I strongly reiterate: no formula, no matter how cleverly marketed, can ever replace a mother’s milk. Breastmilk is not just food. It is medicine. It is protection. It is love in its purest form. And every pikinini deserves that love—without compromise.

Dr Howard Sobel is the WHO Representative in Solomon Islands.

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