Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. advocacy (n.) [ad-vuh-kuh-see] – activities done in support of a cause or a goal
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. advocacy (n.) [ad-vuh-kuh-see] – activities done in support of a cause or a goal
Example: Martin Luther King Jr.
started an advocacy to protect the
rights of African Americans.
2. infant formula (n.) [in-fuhnt][fawr-myuh-luh] – an alternative to mother’s milk
Example: Some mothers who cannot
breastfeed use infant formula to feed
their babies.
3. sample (n.) [sam-puhl, sahm-] – a free
item given by companies for customers to try or test
Example: Customers were given samples of the newest food product to
test its flavor.
4. send the wrong
message (idiom) [send][thuh][rawng, rong][mes-ij] – to mislead someone with one’s words or actions
Example: Hospitals with poor
service send the wrong message to the
public.
5. exclusively (adv.) [ik-skloo-siv, -ziv] – without any other being included, involved or used
Example: Most babies who were exclusively
breastfed had not tasted infant formula.
Article
Read the text below.
Consumer and health
advocacy groups have asked more
than 2,600 US hospitals to stop giving free infant formula samples to mothers who have just given birth.
Top infant formula
companies like Abbot, Mead, and Nestle,
have also been asked to stop distributing these samples.
According to a
report, about 66% of hospitals in the US still give away infant formula in company-sponsored
sample bags, along with other baby products and pamphlets.
Advocacy groups, such
as Public Citizen, are worried that hospitals may be sending the wrong message.
They say mothers might mistakenly think that hospitals promote the use of infant
formula. The free formula might also encourage mothers to give up breastfeeding before even asking help from health professionals.
Government data
show that only 14% of babies under six months old are exclusively breastfed. However, US health officials wish to
increase the number to 26% by 2020, because of the many health benefits of
breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding has
been known to help protect babies against diseases and to reduce babies’ chances
of developing obesity. It is also much cheaper than buying infant formula,
which could cost up to $2,800 a year.
However, some
hospitals and formula makers defend their practice. International Formula
Council’s executive vice president, Mardi Mountford, says women who have
difficulties with breastfeeding want to know more about their options.
Furthermore, the
American Hospital Association says that although breastfeeding is indeed the
best choice, hospitals have a duty to support mothers who choose not to
breastfeed by offering more information and resources.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Should women have the option not to breastfeed
their babies? Please explain your answer.
·
What other benefits of breastfeeding can you
think of?
Discussion B
·
How
can health information be misused by companies?
·
What
can a person do to make sure he/she gets correct health information?