Derek and Patrice Jelliffe
Encyclopedia
Derrick B. Jelliffe and his wife Eleanore. F. Patrice Jelliffe (b November 29, 1920 d March 16, 2007, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA) - known as Dick and Pat Jelliffe - were experts in tropical paediatrics and infant nutrition
. They are most known for their seminal book, Human Milk in the Modern World, published by Oxford University Press
in 1989, and for editing the mult-volume Advances in International Maternal and Child Health. The Jelliffes also wrote over 500 scholarly papers, often together and 22 books. They lived and worked in England
, Africa
, India
, the Caribbean
and settled in Los Angeles
where he held the Chair in Public Health
and Paediatrics at the University of California
from 1972 to 1990.
The Jelliffes' field observations triggered the so-called Baby Killers scandal and the Nestlé boycott
. Professor Jelliffe subsequently testified to a subcommittee of the US Senate organized by Teddy Kennedy in 1978. He coined the phrase commerciogenic malnutrition
to refer to infant starvation caused by inappropriate promotion and use of infant formula
or bottlefeeding in areas with low income and poor water supplies. He is associated with the protection, support and promotion of breastfeeding
.
Other areas associated with their research include the changing composition and properties of human milk, the contraceptive effects of breastfeeding, and the use of breastfeeding for rehydration and other issues for infant refugee
s.
Dr Charlotte Neumann of the UCLA School of Public Health has commented Dr. Jelliffe was the hero of all in international nutrition and health – he played a pivotal role in bringing pediatrics to Africa. Derrick Jelliffe was awarded the Wihuri International Prize in 1979. Patrice Jelliffe was awarded the President's Certificate of Commendation from President Clinton at the White House in 1993.
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
. They are most known for their seminal book, Human Milk in the Modern World, published by Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
in 1989, and for editing the mult-volume Advances in International Maternal and Child Health. The Jelliffes also wrote over 500 scholarly papers, often together and 22 books. They lived and worked in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and settled in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
where he held the Chair in Public Health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
and Paediatrics at the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
from 1972 to 1990.
The Jelliffes' field observations triggered the so-called Baby Killers scandal and the Nestlé boycott
Nestlé boycott
The Nestlé boycott is a boycott launched on July 7, 1977, in the United States against the Swiss-based Nestlé corporation. It spread quickly throughout the United States, and expanded into Europe in the early 1980s. In Canada, the controversy lasted from 1978 to 1984...
. Professor Jelliffe subsequently testified to a subcommittee of the US Senate organized by Teddy Kennedy in 1978. He coined the phrase commerciogenic malnutrition
Malnutrition
Malnutrition is the condition that results from taking an unbalanced diet in which certain nutrients are lacking, in excess , or in the wrong proportions....
to refer to infant starvation caused by inappropriate promotion and use of infant formula
Infant formula
Infant formula is a manufactured food designed and marketed for feeding to babies and infants under 12 months of age, usually prepared for bottle-feeding or cup-feeding from powder or liquid . The U.S...
or bottlefeeding in areas with low income and poor water supplies. He is associated with the protection, support and promotion of breastfeeding
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from female human breasts rather than from a baby bottle or other container. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. It is recommended that mothers breastfeed for six months or...
.
Other areas associated with their research include the changing composition and properties of human milk, the contraceptive effects of breastfeeding, and the use of breastfeeding for rehydration and other issues for infant refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s.
Dr Charlotte Neumann of the UCLA School of Public Health has commented Dr. Jelliffe was the hero of all in international nutrition and health – he played a pivotal role in bringing pediatrics to Africa. Derrick Jelliffe was awarded the Wihuri International Prize in 1979. Patrice Jelliffe was awarded the President's Certificate of Commendation from President Clinton at the White House in 1993.
Selected books
- Human Milk in the Modern World: Psychosocial, Nutritional and Economic Significance (Paperback),(June 1979) ISBN 0-19-264921-3
- The Uniqueness of Human Milk (Paperback - Jan 1, 1971)