NH health centers struggle to find formula for families

As many New Hampshire families scramble to find formula for their children, health centers told U.S. Representative Chris Pappas, D-New Hampshire, on Tuesday that they are doing everything they can to help feed the babies. Officials at Goodwin Community Health in Somersworth said they are working with other agencies and monitoring social media posts in an effort to find formula. “I went there the other day, and there was a box of formula, and I know I have 600 babies in that area that need to be fed,” said Riona Corr, WIC director for Goodwin Community. Health. Pappas organized a roundtable at the health center to discuss the crisis. He said warning signs had been missed. “There should have been red flags here when production was halted at a factory in Michigan, to figure out what that’s doing to the supply chain,” he said. The congressman said the current focus is on making sure the formula gets to the shelves, even if it has to be flown in from overseas. Health officials said they fear families who can’t find formula are taking dangerous steps. sometimes that’s what happens,” said Jessica Garlough, director of family and social services at Seacoast Community Health. “They find them online. They try to trade for formulas that we don’t know where they come from, sometimes outside the country.” For some families, formula is their only option. “Our foster families can’t breastfeed,” Corr said. “Our single dads can’t breastfeed. Place children. Moms who can’t breastfeed. “Officials are concerned that the current crisis will continue to be felt for years to come. Correctly, five years from now we’re going to see major health issues,” Corr said. Health centers said they need support now, but in the future they want to make sure there is a back-up plan so it never happens again.

As many New Hampshire families scramble to find formula for their children, health centers told U.S. Representative Chris Pappas, D-New Hampshire, on Tuesday that they are doing everything they can to help feed the babies.

Officials at Goodwin Community Health in Somersworth said they were working with other agencies and monitoring social media posts in an effort to find formula.

“I went there the other day, and there was a box of formula, and I know I have 600 babies in that area that need to be fed,” said Riona Corr, WIC director for Goodwin Community. Health.

Pappas organized a roundtable at the health center to discuss the crisis. He said the warning signs had been missed.

“There should have been red flags here when production was halted at a factory in Michigan, to figure out what that’s doing to the supply chain,” he said.

The congressman said the current goal is to make sure the formula gets to the shelf, even if it has to be flown in from overseas.

Health officials said they fear families who can’t find formula are taking dangerous steps.

“We don’t want them using homemade formula recipes, which sometimes happens,” said Jessica Garlough, director of family and social services at Seacoast Community Health. “They find them online. They try to trade formulas that we don’t know where they come from, sometimes outside the country.”

For some families, formula is their only option.

“Our foster families cannot breastfeed,” Corr said. “Our single dads can’t breastfeed. Foster kids. Moms who can’t breastfeed.”

Officials fear that the current crisis will continue to reverberate for years to come.

“In five years, if these infants aren’t fed properly, in five years we’re going to see major health issues,” Corr said.

Health center workers said they need support now, but in the future they want to make sure there is a back-up plan so it never happens again.

Maria J. Book