A 7-month old baby girl died on May 8 from protein malnutrition - one of five cases of severe infant malnutrition presented at Nuku'alofa's Vaiola Hospital this year.

Another infant, also from a Tongatapu village, died in January from protein malnutrition, while two others are currently in hospital after being fed on sweetened condensed milk, which weakens their immune systems.

Tonga's Paediatrician Dr Siaosi 'Aho confirmed that the 7-month old baby girl was admitted for pneumonia on May 8 but she died the same day. After she died they confirmed that her illness was due to protein malnutrition.

Concerned

Dr Aho is concerned about an increasing number of infants being admitted for protein malnutrition. He explained it is caused when the baby is not being breastfed and not given the right food alternative, which is the humanised baby formula. Instead, they are being fed with the wrong food that has inadequate protein intake.

"In the cases that I have seen coming through the ward, including the latest death, infants are being fed with inexpensive food alternatives such as the sweet condensed milk and powder milk that has high calories and very low protein for the baby to absorb.

"By not being breastfed or fed with the right humanised baby formula as advised, the baby would have low protein intake that would cause his or her immune system to weaken and allow other infections to enter such as pneumonia.

"This form of malnutrition is different from that seen on pictures of babies who are skin and bone, that is another form of malnutrition," Dr Aho said.

Hardship

He added that Tonga today is dealing with a social economic dynamic that differs from that of the past. "It is quite convincing that the use of inexpensive food alternative is a reflection of the economic hardship that we are currently facing," he added

He strongly advised mothers to breastfeed and if they do not then to use the right humanised formula, as it is the best alternative.

Currently at the ward there are two babies who were experiencing the same case of malnutrition, "but they are lucky because they were admitted in time."

He said that Tonga tries to take pride in itself that mothers breastfeed, but too often that is not the case, whatever the reasons may be for the mother.

Has to be addressed

"I believe this is a problem for Tonga and I am not proud to tell the world that this is a problem, at the same time this is not something that should be swept under the carpet, because it has to be addressed," said Dr Aho.

He added that another obstacle they faced was that some of these mothers were too proud to confess with accurate information when they were asked about the feeding of their baby. "Instead, they give you the technically right question and the right information that their baby is drinking formula but further tests prove otherwise," he said.

Too many children

However, he confirmed that his concern over protein malnutrition babies only extended to a very small group of mothers in Tonga, some who clearly had too many children, and might be struggling to take care of them.

"From our perspective we are very concerned and we would love to see mothers breastfeed but if they don't want to then, please, we strongly advise to please confirm that their babies are being fed with the right baby formula," Dr Aho said.