Health experts say use of infant formula instead of breastfeeding is impoverishing already poor Filipino families and contributes to the death of 16,000 children a year.
The average income of a poor Filipino family is about 7,000 pesos a month, or $125, and the World Health Organization says one fourth of that is spent on infant formula.
Doctor Jean Marc Olive, WHO country representative for the Philippines, says more than $375 million is spent on infant formula, and the economic impact is staggering. "Breast milk is free," he said. "They could use this money in improving the nutrition status, buying better food for their offspring, paying for education, so this has a very important impact on poverty."
The health impact is even more compelling. According to WHO estimates, about 16,000 infants die each year because of problems related to formula.
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