Tete changes everything.

There have been several people (whom I respect greatly) who've been blogging lately about the need for breastfeeding education in Haiti.

Like this post from Tara.

And this post from Heather.

Which reminded me of this post I wrote a long time ago.

But yeah, if you don't feel like listening to a bunch of white girls rant about what Haitian women should be doing (albeit REALLY cool white girls), just take a look at this picture.


Baby on the left:
Age: 7 months.
Formula fed.
Calculated cost of what formula would be for 7 month old = $1250 US.

Baby on right:
Age: 4 months.
Breastfed.
Calculated cost of what breastmilk would be for a 4 month old = $0.

A few things to consider. Both babies are being raised in IDP camps in Jacmel, Haiti. Both moms are single but living with a (somewhat deadbeat) boyfriend.

Haitian minimum wage is $5US/day. However, average Haitian wage is $2US/day. So the amount of money that could be made by one parent in Haiti if they worked EVERY day of the seven-month old baby's life (with no days off) would be $1050US (based on minimum wage.) However, the average amount of money actually made by a parent working EVERY day of the seven-month old baby's life (with no days off) would be $420US. (Based on the average wage in Haiti.)

I don't have a degree in math like Nick Mangine, but this seems like a no-brainer to me.

PS- Tete is the Kreyol word for breast, but I didn't think a missionary should have a blog post called "Breasts change everything." Like how I am all on the down low?