[TOKYO, Japan, 13 April 2011]
The Japan Committee for UNICEF (JCU) has set up a free hotline to respond to consultations about breastfeeding and infant nutrition in order to support vulnerable mothers and infants in the disaster area. Furthermore, the committee has created a poster and pamphlet in order to spread proper information related to infant nutrition and assist in the development of friendly environments for mothers and infants in the disaster area.
The infant nutrition hotline was created with the cooperation of the UNICEF Tokyo Office, Japan Liaison Council of Breastfeeding Organizations (Japan Society of Breastfeeding Research, Japan Breast Feeding Association and Japanese Association of Lactation Consultants) and the Special Committee for Supporting Mothers and Children Under the Stress (La Leche League Japan, Breastfeeding Support Network of Japan and Japanese Association of Lactation Consultants).
The free hotline is operated by Japanese representatives from the aforementioned La Leche League Japan. A separate consultation hotline has also been established by the Japan Breast Feeding Association (telephone charges apply).
The hotlines provide consultation on infant nutrition, breastfeeding, powdered milk, relaxation methods and more. Mothers, families and other related personnel in the disaster area are most welcome to make full use of these services.
In disasters such as the one in the Tohoku region, it is important for people living and staying around mothers to cooperate in providing friendly spaces to vulnerable mothers and children. Even if a mother wants to continue breastfeeding, stress makes it more difficult to produce milk temporarily and the problem of securing private space to breastfeed compounds difficulties. Moreover, giving infants powdered milk requires a more sanitary environment than when breastfeeding.
In order for everyone to work together in creating friendly environments for mothers and infants, the Japan Committee for UNICEF has constructed a Minna de Kosodate (Child Rearing Together) poster and Okasan to Akachan no Fureai Mother and Child Communications) book with the cooperation of the UNICEF Tokyo Office, Japan Liaison Council of Breastfeeding Organizations and the Special Committee for Supporting Mothers and Children Under the Stress of Natural Disasters.
(These materials were created based on the Declaration supporting safe and proper infant nutrition and the Policy regarding infant nutrition during times of disaster, which were released on 6 April.)
The Minna de Kosodate poster and Okasan to Akachan no Fureai book are scheduled for gradual distribution throughout the disaster area. The two can also be downloaded, printed and used directly from this website. We hope that these materials will assist in creating friendly environments for infants and mothers.
| Receiving Prefecture |
Type of Emergency Supplies |
Arrival Date |
Quantity | Donating Company |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miyagi | Water | 19 Mar. | 12,288 bottles |
VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Fukushima | Water | 22 Mar. | 12,672 bottles |
VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Underwear for boys and girls | 22 Mar. | 200,000 | ||
| Iwate | Underwear for boys and girls | 23 Mar. | 30,000 | ||
| Fukushima | Water | 23 Mar. | 4,680 bottles |
KIRIN MC DANONE WATERS Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Children’s shoes | 23 Mar. | 10,000 pairs |
||
| Miyagi | RChildren’s diapers | 24 Mar. | 80 packs | P&G Japan | |
| Iwate | Children’s underwear | 24 Mar. | 9,700 | ||
| Fukushima | Water | 24 Mar. | 12,288 bottles |
VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Iwate | Shoes | 26 Mar | 1,404 pairs | Achilles Corporation | |
| Iwate | Underwear for boys and girls | 27 Mar. | 28,266 | ||
| Iwate | Boots | 27 Mar. | 7,462 pairs | ||
| Iwate | Wipes | 28 Mar. | 1,200 | P&G Japan | For babies |
| Miyagi | Recreation kits Early Childhood Development kits |
2 Apr. | 50 of each | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Iwate | Recreation kits Early Childhood Development kits |
2 Apr. | 50 of each | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Miyagi | Book bags | 6 Apr. | 70 | Nihon New Bag Chain | |
| Iwate | Book bags | 6 Apr. | 340 | Seiban | |
| Miyagi | Schoolbags | 8 Apr. | 18,000 | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Iwate | Schoolbags | 8 Apr. | 18,000 | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Miyagi | Personal security buzzers (for crime prevention purposes) | 8 Apr. | 5,000 | ||
| Iwate | Personal security buzzers (for crime prevention purposes) | 8 Apr. | 5,000 |
*In certain cases some supplies may be taken from prefectural supply storage warehouses and distributed to shelters and disaster sites in other prefectures.
As of 9:00 a.m. on 8 April 2011 (compiled by the Information and Public Affairs Division).