Several Chinese social organizations and Wyeth Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Friday jointly launched a nationwide campaign to provide free guide books on feeding infants to the public, especially people in rural areas.

A hotline has also been opened for the distribution of the book,which is compiled by pediatricians and nutrition specialists.

The All-China Women's Federation and China Consumers' Association will present books and organize lectures in urban communities, towns and villages in some 20 provinces and cities, and remote, poverty-stricken areas in northwestern China.

The specialists will also given lectures in Beijing, Shanghai and 15 other major cities to train more than 5,000 medical workersat the grass roots level, according to organizers.

The activity followed the death of thirteen infants in Anhui Province as a result of nutritional deficiencies caused by substandard milk powder. A total of 189 infants, all born after May 1, 2003, were found to suffer from malnutrition after they were fed on sub-quality powdered milk with little or none nutritious contents. and 171 infants suffered from malnutrition after being fed with milk powder deficient in protein and other nutrients.

The Anhui provincial government has issued an urgent circular calling for immediate rectification of the milk powder market and severe punishment of law breakers.

The media has uncovered a large number of cases involving ill-fed infants caused by fake powdered milk, triggering a nationwide campaign to check the quality of infant-use milk powder and to popularize basic knowledge on feeding infants.

Source: Xinhua