By: Alanna Shaikh

Last week was . What does that have to do with NTDs, you ask? You should know by now I can connect anything to NTDs.[i] But the breastfeeding connection is stronger than you might expect – neglected tropical diseases hit children the hardest, but breastfeeding helps to fight that. Here are a number of ways that breastfeeding protects babies from neglected tropical diseases:

1.       It protects babies from contaminated water. Dracunculiasis, and roundworm infections are caused by ingesting contaminated water. If a baby is exclusively breastfed, there is no water exposure. No contaminated water mixing with formula powder, and no contaminated water being drunk by the baby. In an older baby who is breastfed and eats some solid foods, the breastfeeding still minimizes exposure to potentially contaminated liquids.

2.       Breastfeeding directly strengthens an infant’s immune system. Breastfed babies absorb antibodies from their mothers’ immune systems, making them less vulnerable to infections of all kinds, including the bacteria, parasites, and viruses that cause NTDs. If the mother’s body has been exposed and fought it off, she shares that protection with her breastfed infant.

3.       Breastfeeding helps babies stay healthy and survive illnesses. Breastfed babies grow more consistently and have better fat reserves. They are less likely to be seriously damaged by, say, a minor helminth infection.

4.       Breastfed babies aren’t constantly ill with other things. Babies in the developing world who don’t get breastmilk get an endless string of childhood illnesses. Diarrhea, respiratory infections, ear infections, and so on. It wears them down. That makes them much more likely to be totally overwhelmed by a more serious illness like a NTD.

You can help to support breastfeeding in the developing world. Call on manufacturers of baby formula to abide by the . , and don’t support organizations that donate it.

And, finally, support breastfeeding mothers in your own community. The neglected tropical diseases are in more locations than ever before, and you never know which child might be exposed next. It could be your neighbor’s baby who is exposed to dengue. If you see a mom breastfeeding, smile at her. If you’re the social type, tell her you’re glad to see her giving the best nutrition to her child. [ii]

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[i] I am proud of this ability. Dr. Peter Hotez does the same thing, and he’s a global health superstar. Being even a tiny bit like Dr. Hotez is something to treasure and I am glad to do my part to make NTDs less neglected. Sure, sometimes my family asks me nicely to please stop talking about helminthes at the dinner table, but I bet the exact same thing happens to Dr. Hotez all the time.

[ii] This doesn’t mean glare at people feeding formula. There could be all kinds of stuff going on – maybe the baby’s adopted, maybe breastfeeding didn’t work, maybe the mom is getting chemotherapy and can’t nurse. And maybe that substance in the bottle you’re glaring at is breastmilk.

Alanna Shaikh is an expert in health consulting, writing about global health for UN Dispatch and about international relief and development at Blood & Milk. She also serves as a frequently contributing blogger to ‘End the Neglect.’ The views and opinions expressed by guest bloggers are not necessarily the views and opinions of the Global Network. All opinions expressed here are Alanna’s own and not those of any employer or the US government.