International Breast Milk Project Helps Typhoon Victims in the Philippines

21 October 2009 [MEDIAGLOBAL]:
This Wednesday, the International Breast Milk Project (IBMP) donated almost 200 bottles of breast milk to the infants of Manila after the devastating effects of last months’ typhoon Ondoy.

The Philippines was battered by tropical storm Ketsana (also known as Ondoy), which made landfall on September 26, and then by typhoon Parma, which struck a week later. The storms led to more than 500 deaths and displaced scores of thousands of others, and caused crop damage estimated at over $160 million.

However, infants were the worst hit. Amanda Nickerson, Executive Director, for the International Breast Milk Project told MediaGlobal, "When we received the request for donated breast milk for infants of typhoon Ondoy, we knew we needed to act quickly. We are rushing milk to assist the milk bank in Manila in their time of need."

The IBMP is an organization that helps mothers in the United States send their breast milk to infants in need, who have either lost their mothers or whose mothers are not able to breast feed due to HIV infection, untreated tuberculosis, serious illness, and/or severe anemia or malnourishment.

Despite the fact that breast-fed infants have been proven to be healthier, IBMP is the only international organization to provide breast milk to infants in developing countries.

Specifically, the organization focuses on infants in South Africa, where it is estimated that 1.5 million children have lost their parents due to HIV/AIDS, and many more have mothers who are unable to breastfeed because they are ill. By the end of 2009, IBMP will have sent an estimated 65,000 bottles, (262,655 ounces, 7,767 liters or 2052 gallons) of safe breast milk to infants in South Africa. That is equivalent to the amount of milk needed to feed 2,188 babies one bottle of milk a day for 30 days.

"In 2007, the organization started with just one donor, and it is estimated that by the end of 2009 IBMP will have 1,450 donors nationwide," Nickerson added.

Quick International Courier is donating their services to send the milk via priority shipment. The milk will be picked up frozen and remain frozen until it is thawed for use. The milk will be delivered to the Philippines General Hospital Milk Bank in Manila, and then distributed with the help of UNICEF to the evacuation shelters throughout the Philippines.

The United Nations has appealed for $74 million to help one million people affected by the storms in the Philippines for the next six months. It has so far received $20 million.

For more information, please contact Amanda Nickerson, Executive Director.
Cell: 786.837.3082. Email: amanda@breastmilkproject.org.

To help IBMP raise funds, make your financial contribution here.

IBMP is a federally registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

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