Thursday, August 12, 2004

news@nature.com - WHO to define ideal for child growth
Published online: 11 August 2004;
Helen Pearson
"The World Health Organization (WHO) is rewriting the rulebook on how fast and fat children should grow. Their new healthy growth guidelines, due to be released next year, should help fight malnutrition and obesity. At present, health workers worldwide judge whether babies and children are growing fast enough based on standard curves of height and weight drawn up in the 1970s. The figures were calculated by collecting data on US children, who were mainly fed infant formula...."
Migrants tell tale of horror

By MARINA JIMÉNEZ and COLIN FREEZE
From Thursday's Globe and Mail
"A boatload of starving migrants from the Dominican Republic resorted to drinking breast milk and eating human flesh on an ill-fated crossing to Puerto Rico that left at least 40 people dead, according to some survivors and rescuers...."
Australia to open breast milk bank to help babies
Agence France-Presse
Melbourne, August 12
"Australia's first breast milk bank will open for business next year to meet a growing demand from ageing mothers and premature babies, the centre's founder said Thursday. Lactation consultant Margaret Callaghan said the private clinic will offer pasteurised breast milk to hospitals treating newborns and to mothers who cannot produce enough milk...."