Derrick B. Jelliffe (January 20, 1921 – March 18, 1992 in Los Angeles) and his wife Eleanore. F. Patrice Jelliffe (November 29, 1920 – March 16, 2007 in Los Angeles)IN MEMORIAM: Derrick B. Jelliffe
By G.J.E (Page 145), Vol. 38 No. 4 August 1992, Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, Oxford university Press – 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 1978, and for editing the multi-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

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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 Edward Moore Kennedy (February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States senator from Massachusetts for almost 47 years, from 1962 until his death in 2009. A member of the Democratic ...

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 Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...

effects of breastfeeding, and the use of breastfeeding for rehydration and other issues for infant

refugee A refugee, conventionally speaking, is a displaced person who has crossed national borders and who cannot or is unwilling to return home due to well-founded fear of persecution.

s. Dr Charlotte Neumann of the UCLA School of Public Health has commented that ''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. In 1982, Derrick Jelliffe received an honorary doctorate from the Faculty of Medicine at Uppsala University,

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. 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) * ''The Uniqueness of Human Milk'' (Paperback - Jan 1, 1971)

References

External links

British Contributions to Medical Research and Conditions in Africa after the Second World War
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jelliffe, Derrick and Patrice American pediatricians American information and reference writers American social sciences writers 20th-century American non-fiction writers Breastfeeding activists American health activists UCLA School of Public Health faculty