Metro Manila— During the recently conducted Refresher Course on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) and Mobilization of Community Support Group held last March 5-7, 2013 at Eurotel Hotel, Makati City, Ms. Vicenta Borja of the Department of Health strongly advocates to the public to report any Milk Code (Executive Order 51) violations and violators.

She said that the Milk Code aims to protect and promote safe and adequate nutrition for infants and young children through the promotion and protection of breastfeeding; therefore, all products for infant and young child feeding that are promoted and marketed in a way that may undermine breastfeeding is strictly prohibited.

All health workers from all levels should read and understand the scope of this law and help monitor its compliance, she added. Among the prohibitions she emphasized are the following: 1)do not promote products covered by the Milk Code; 2) do not allow milk companies and their representatives to promote their products within your health center/clinic/hospital, community/barangays; 3) do not post/accept posters or other promotional materials from Milk Companies and use it in your health center/clinic/hospital/health facility; 4) do not get sponsorships from Milk Company and their representatives without requesting the permission from FDA; 5) do not request/accepts gifts of any sort from Milk Companies and their representatives; 6) do not request/accept samples of products or products covered by the Milk Code to Milk Companies and their representatives; 7)do not allow the Milk Companies and their representatives to support/conduct activities in your communities/barangay and cities; and 8) the Milk Code prohibits donations of products covered during emergencies.

Do not be afraid to report violations at www.milkcodephilippines.org. Your identity is strongly protected by the Department of Health. Together we can help protect and promote breastfeeding in the country.