Many others are also doing so. Child Health 2000, here has made substantial progress in avoiding such conflict of interest since its last meeting. As part of the last world breast feeding week, Mr. Grant appealed to physicians throughout the world to sign a pledge to work to end the practice of marketing and promoting breast milk substitutes anywhere in the health care system. Within one month, more than 3000 physicians had signed, there are now over 22 000. Continued efforts to support breast feeding are clearly necessary.
Breast feeding is cost effective.
We heard this morning of the tremendous success in the Philippines. Even in industrialized countries the savings from breast feeding could be enormous. Only one breastfed baby had been hospitalized for respiratory infections, compared to 51 for those who had been bottle fed at birth. In most countries of Africa, BFHI is integrated with other health care. In Bourke Nafaso in Namibia it is combined with a mother friendly initiative promoting modern obstetric care.