Unfortunately Under-Reported

29,000 children under the age of 5 have died in in Somalia the past 90 days. That should be front page news for every newspaper in the world. Another 640,000 small children are acutely malnourished. That should be enough to call everyone to action. You can help stop babies from dying! At Oxfam, your $100 donation will feed a family of six more than two weeks!

It's easy to feel like you never have quite enough money coming in for all the things you want, or even the things you need. But if you're well-off enough to be reading this blog -- you have access to a computer with internet -- I'm betting (and hoping) you will never truly know what it means be truly starving. While Americans are busy struggling with chronic overeating and obesity, throwing away tons of spoiled or leftover food, and holding eating contests; 13 million people in the Horn of Africa are experiencing the horrific effects of famine. Every day, 1,600 starving Somali refugees pour into Kenya, and another 200 into Ethiopia.

CNN says The United Nations needs $2.5 billion to cope with the crisis. But so far, it has only received 48 percent of that figure. And the health sector is also an area of concern. During famine, people die of epidemic diseases like measles and malaria. If relief organizations don't also have the resources to support health-promotion and disease-prevention activities, then a lot of lives will be unnecessarily lost.

Charles Kenny calls this disaster a crime against humanity. In Foreign Policy he says:

Deprived of food long enough, the bodies of starving people break down muscle tissue to keep vital organs functioning. Diarrhea and skin rashes are common, as are fungal and other infections. As the stomach wastes away, the perception of hunger is reduced and lethargy sets in. Movement becomes immensely painful. Often it is dehydration that finally causes death, because the perception of thirst and a starving person's ability to get water are both radically diminished.

Make a difference! Organizations and funds you can donate to (If you're worried about your money making it to where it will really matter, most of these organization's websites have information about the breakdown of where your donation money goes.):

The World Food Programme is appealing for $342 million to feed 11.3 million people in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia. The organization plans to airlift high energy biscuits and nutritious supplementary foods to those most in need.

UNHCR has asked for $136.3 million and suggests donations such as $7, which provides therapeutic food for a malnourished child.

The British Red Cross and The Kenya Red Cross are both accepting funds online or through mail to first mitigate the crisis and then help people in the region restore their livelihoods.

Mercy Corps has helped deliver water to 16 Kenyan villages in the last few days, providing relief to almost 120,000 people. The organization is accepting donations to continue expanding its work.

Oxfam, in conjunction with Save The Children, is appealing for $144 million. Any amount is welcome, but the Oxfam site suggests $50 to provide 200 people a day's supply of clean water or $100 to feed a family of six more than two weeks.

The International Rescue Committee is accepting donations that will provide medical screenings, expand water-supply systems and offer help for pregnant women, among other efforts.

The ELCA World Hunger Relief is accepting donations to provide immediate aid to refugee camps in the Horn of Africa. 100 percent of donations used for regional relief, including filling a food distribution gap by providing enriched porridge to children/elderly who are too weak to eat dry food.

A donation to Action Aid will help deliver emergency supplies of food and water, and provide support, ensuring people don't become reliant on food aid.

The U.N. Children's Fund asks for help in assisting the more than 2 million children who are malnourished.

International Medical Corps' is accepting donations as it ships food and oil to four refugee camps. The Corps will also construct additional latrines and bathing areas.
--(Organization list taken from the Huffington Post's Impact section)

Preterm Delivery Prevention Drug's Price Reduced Amid Controversy

KV Pharmaceutical announced Friday that they will reduce the price of the drug Makena from $1,500 a dose to $690. Makena reduces the risk that a woman will give birth prematurely. The company also said it was improving its program that helps women receive the drug who can't afford it. But if you need Makena, you're not just going to need one dose, you're going to be given a dose a week for 20 weeks, which at its original cost would've totaled about $30,000 (now reduced to about $13,800). The St. Louis pharmaceutical company came under scrutiny recently for charging such a high price for such a lifesaving drug. The new price still seems a bit steep.

The drug is a form of progesterone called 17P, and has been used in a generic form for years since no company had previously marketed it. At-risk moms-to-be could get it from pharmacies cheaply and easily, but doctors were concerned about the purity and consistency of the drug. So initially it seemed like a victory when KV won FDA approval and 7-year exclusive rights to the drug formulation in February. Now despite that promise, the FDA says it will not stop pharmacies from continuing to make the $10 - $20 a dose versions of the drug.

Or Does Formula Make You Stupid?

A study published in the January issue of Pediatrics finally confirms what many have long suspected, but other studies have had trouble proving (given all the confounding factors): that is, that babies breastfed for for at least six months turn out smarter than their formula-fed counterparts. The Australian study looked at the test results of 1038 children in mathematics, reading, writing, and spelling at age 10. Associations between breastfeeding duration and educational outcomes were adjusted for gender, family income, maternal factors, and early stimulation at home (through reading).

"Predominant breastfeeding for 6 months or longer was associated with significantly higher scores for mathematics, reading, and spelling in 10-year-old children when adjusted for the sociodemographic characteristics of the mother and family and early stimulation of the child. However, significant interaction effects were shown between gender and breastfeeding. ... Our results suggest that breastfeeding duration is independently associated with better educational outcomes in middle childhood, especially for boys."

For us extended breastfeeding enthusiasts, this is simply further proof that our instincts are right. As the parent of a boy, I am especially glad that I breastfed for two and a half years. For anyone wondering if breastfeeding is worth it, maybe this could be the tipping point. There are enough reasons to choose breastfeeding - less risk of obesity and cancers for mom and baby for starters - which one will convince you?