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- Category: Region NCR
With the uncertainty that the COVID-19 pandemic brings, we are left with many, many questions. What is the mechanism of the virus? When will the cure come? For a lactating mother, the scariest question might be this—how will I feed my baby when I turn out to be positive for COVID-19?
While a lot of questions are still left unanswered, one evidence-based truth is that breastmilk remains a safe and rich source of nutrients for infants; there is currently no evidence that documents the transmission of the COVID-19 virus through breastmilk. A mother positive for COVID-19 is highly encouraged to continue breastfeeding with the strict observance of precautionary measures such as wearing a face mask and regularly washing her hands with soap and water.
However, there are extreme cases where a mother is too sick to breastfeed or express milk. Infants should still be fed with breastmilk, but alternative methods will have to be explored. One may use a wet nurse to feed the baby. Another choice is to use donor breastmilk sourced from a human milk bank.
Read more: Donor breastmilk is a good option for moms too unwell to breastfeed
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- Category: Region NCR
In a virtual meeting of the Association of Nutrition Action Officers of NCR (ANAO-NCR), Inc. held on May 14, all Nutrition Action Officers (NAO) from the 17 LGUs committed to continue providing the needed and appropriate nutrition interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the community quarantine, be it Enhanced or Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ or MECQ), many families are experiencing hunger due to lack of or insufficient money to buy food. Many have lost their livelihood and rely on relief goods and food packs from the local government and private donors. Hunger and poverty during this pandemic may result in the worsening of the nutrition situation which is what the NAOs would like to prevent.
“In this challenging time, we are all busy addressing many concerns in our respective LGUs. We see the increasing poverty due to the current situation. And it is a very challenging time also for nutrition. It is best that we come together and come up with the best solutions that will benefit everybody”, ANAO-NCR President Chef Oreta said in her opening message.
Read more: Nutrition Action Officers of NCR mobilized for sustained COVID-19 nutrition response
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In the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic, people are overwhelmed and in a state of panic—how much more are the mothers raising infants and young children? Whenever we are faced with a health crisis, infants and young children are the most vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition.
The COVID-19 pandemic, sadly, has an adverse effect to the way mothers and caregivers feed their infants and young children. Because of psychological stress and additional tasks at home, some mothers are under the assumption that breast milk production will be affected, and it is best to transition to formula milk.
Fact check: the opposite is actually true. Breastfeeding will greatly save your baby’s life during emergency situations.
Read more: With or without COVID-19, Breastfeeding is the Best
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Everyone is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, both children and adults. The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) has left many people with no source of income and no or little money to buy food. In this time of pandemic, the government should implement measures to address hunger and malnutrition.
To mitigate hunger in the city while under ECQ, the Valenzuela city government launched the Alagang Valenzuelano initiative to provide residents with basic goods and daily necessities.
First on the list is the Alagang Valenzuelano Food Pack Distribution among families using the Food Voucher system. To enforce social distancing, residents were encouraged to pick-up their food packs based on the time, date and redemption area specified on their food vouchers. Around 105,000 food vouchers were distributed to indigent families during the first wave of distribution which happened on March 23, 2020.
Read more: Mitigating hunger amid COVID-19 the “Alagang Valenzuelano” Way
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- Category: Region NCR
Executive Order (EO) 51 more commonly known as The Milk Code prohibits the donation of breastmilk substitutes including formula, powdered milk and other milk; feeding bottles, teats and commercial baby food and should not be part of general distribution of emergency food packs. The prohibition includes donations from private sector and individuals, groups and organizations. The implementation of the Milk Code and the “No Milk Donation” Policy during emergencies is made even more challenging by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many families lost their source of livelihood during the Enhanced Community Quarantine or ECQ due to COVID-19. This resulted to many families asking for help, particularly for food donations. Parents continuously appeal for milk formula for their infants and young children especially those who are formula fed as they cannot afford to buy milk formula during this time. Even some breastfeeding mothers also appeal for milk formula donation, apparently due to decreasing breastmilk production because of stress.
Read more: Municipality of Pateros strictly implements Milk Code
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- Category: Region NCR
To adapt to these extraordinary times that the COVID-19 pandemic has placed us all in, everything has shifted online. Mass gatherings are no longer allowed, which puts a cap on physical seminars and other learning opportunities; creative ways on sharing information are welcomed and encouraged.
With this, the Navotas City Nutrition Office uses its Facebook fan page not only to engage netizens but at the same time share information about proper nutrition. They have started an online nutrition quiz show named “#NavoNutriQuizTion” where they post crossword puzzles and short quizzes on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) and the First 1000 Days (F1KD). Interested participants must comment their answers then tag three Facebook friends to encourage them to answer the quiz as well. The winners will receive hygiene kits and eggs from the nutrition office and rice from City Nutrition Action Officer Councilor Julia Monroy.
Read more: Navotas City maximizes use of social media in nutrition promotion during ECQ
