Breastfeeding could save over 820,000 children’s lives under the age of 5 years each year (World Health Organization). This year, the Department of Health heads the celebration of the breastfeeding awareness month in the country with the theme “Tulong-tulong sa Pagpapasuso sa First 1,000 Days.”

Saving babies’ lives through breastfeeding starts with the Unang Yakap protocol or placing babies in immediate skin-to skin contact with their mothers to keep them warm, prevent them from exposure to possible disease-contaminated surfaces in health facilities, and help establish breastfeeding (World Food Programme). This protocol is more helpful in ensuring that newborns are protected against COVID-19 when pregnant women are vaccinated. DOH advises that the pregnant can get the vaccine with precaution and is to be received after the first trimester of pregnancy.

Breastmilk is said to be TAMA, SAPAT, at EKSKLUSIBO from 0 until the child reaches his/her sixth month. This then continues with safe, nutritious, adequate and diverse complementary food until they turn 3 (DOH). Since breastmilk contains antibodies, babies can be protected from potentially deadly infections like pneumonia, diarrhea, and sepsis. With this, malnutrition, especially being too short for age can be avoided (WHO).

While breastfeeding is natural, it takes practice to be ready for pregnancy and immediate postpartum. Moreover, breastfeeding women can get active support from their families, health facilities, and other workplaces or communities through health workers and support groups. The Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 (RA 10028) mandates formal and informal workplaces, health and non-health facilities, establishments or institutions to provide supportive breastfeeding policies and physical spaces.

Furthermore, to help educate the public about pure breastfeeding, the Philippine Milk Code exists as it ensures the minimal to no commercial marketing of breastmilk substitutes intended for infants and young children to 24 months. For these reasons, the general public must comply and be vigilant in the government’s implementation of such.

BELLA M. BASALONG

References:

UNICEF Philippines (2020)

Breastfeeding must continue amidst COVID-19

United Nations World Food Programme (2020)

Unang Yakap and Breastfeeding are Life-Saving for Babies in the Philippines

Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines (2010)

Republic Act 10028, An Act Expanding the Promotion of Breastfeeding, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 7600, Otherwise Known as “An Act Providing Incentives to all Government and Private Health Institutions with Rooming-In and Breastfeeding Practices and for Other Purposes

World Health Organization (2021)

Infant and Young Child Feeding

Department of Health (2021)

Observance of August 2021 as National Breastfeeding Awareness Month with the Theme “Tulong-Tulong sa Pagpapasuso sa First 1,000 Days!”