SAN FERNANDO CITY, Apr. 15 (Anne Hazel Flores,PIA-1) – The National Nutrition Council-Region 1 (NNC-1) encouraged lactating moms to exclusively breastfeed their babies amid the enhanced community quarantine in the entire Luzon due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Ang breastfeeding ay kumpletong pagkain para sa iyong anak sa kanyang unang anim na buwan,” said NNC-1 OIC Nutrition Program Coordinator Kendall Pilgrim Gatan.
According to NNC-1, lactating mothers must not give any food, water or any liquid drink to babies from zero to six months old.
NNC-1 dissuades liquid drink such as infant formula milk, powdered milk, and other milk products; breastmilk substitute; commercial baby food including feeding bottles, artificial nipples, and teats to be used by infants.
“Ang gatas ng ina ay sapat na para punuan ang pagkauhaw at gutom ng isang sanggol sa kanyang unang anim na buwan,” he added.
Further, NNC-1 said that giving babies food and other liquid drinks during this period of life may lessen or decrease breastmilk production of their mothers.
In an advisory released by the Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Ilocos on April 14, the agency calls on the prohibition in accepting and distributing donations of alternative food, drinks, and feeding products for babies.
“Let us promote, protect and support exclusive breastfeeding only since it is still the best for infants even during emergencies and disasters,” said DOH-CHD Ilocos Regional Director Dr. Valeriano Jesus V. Lopez, CESO IV.
For mothers having difficulty producing breastmilk, they may opt to visit or consult online health and nutrition workers or peer health counselors for help, advised NNC-1.
DOH’s advisory is aligned under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Proclamation No. 922 declaring a State of Public Health Emergency throughout the Philippines wherein local government units, rural health units and district hospitals are requested to strictly implement Executive Order No. 51, The Philippine Milk Code and DOH’s Administrative Order No. 2017-00117.
