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- Category: Region 2
The National Nutrition Council R02 reminded Local Nutrition Committees (LNCs) to strictly implement Executive Order No. 51 or the Milk Code of the Philippines during the Enhanced Community Quarantine.
In a live interview with PIA Region, Ms. Maria Gisela M. Lonzaga, Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator, appealed to Chair of LNCs in the region to ensure their strict compliance of the EO 51.
The Milk Code or Executive Order 51, signed by then President Corazon Aquino in 1986 is the law that promotes, protects and supports breastfeeding, in the Philippines. EO 51 and its revised Implementation Rules and Regulations prohibits the acceptance and distribution of donations of milk formula, powdered milk and other milk substitutes, commercial baby food feeding bottles and artificial nipples and teats to 0-6 months infants. General distribution of these items during an emergency is not allowed.
She emphasized that LGUs must be strict in the compliance of EO 51 particularly in the non-acceptance and distribution of formula milk in times or emergency.
“Mas mainam pa rin po ang breasfmilk para sa sanggol anim na buwan pababa at nararapat na complementary feeding para sa mga sanggol anim na buwan pataas at patuloy na pagpapasuso,” she emphasized during the interview.
Read more: NNC R02 reminds LNCs strict implementation of EO51
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- Category: Region 2
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months in order to achieve their optimal growth, development and health. Exclusive breastfeeding is when the baby receives only breastmilk and no additional foods, water and other liquids are given, except for medicines and vitamins as prescribed by physian. Breastfeeding has many health benefits and it helps both the mother and the baby’s physical, emotional and psychological state.
Breastfeeding and breastmilk have many advantages for both the mother and the infant. Breast milk has the perfect nutrients that can suffice all the nutrient demands of the baby for growth and development. It contains protein, fat, vitamins A and C, iron, lactose and essential fatty acids – for the development of the baby’s brain, eyes, and blood vessels. Also, nutrients that are found in breast milk are more easily absorbed and digested by the baby compared to formula milk. It also contains protective properties such as antibody and white cells that protects the baby against allergy and infection. Vitamin A which reduces the severity of infection, also has a purgative property which helps clear the meconium (earliest stool of a newborn) and prevent jaundice, and growth factors which helps the intestine of the baby to mature. These properties can be found in the colostrum- a nutrient-rich fluid that is produced by the mother’s breast immediately after giving birth. Also, breastfed babies are less likely to develop diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea, meningitis, and ear infection. Development of non-communicable diseases later in life can also be prevented.
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- Category: Region 2
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, (PIA) – The Department of Agriculture here is encouraging people to grow their own food while on Enhanced Community Quarantine.
Regional Executive Director Narciso Edillo said the department is giving free vegetable seeds to the public through their different municipal agriculture offices.
He said the department has already ordered the respective municipal agriculturist of the different towns in the region to coordinate with DA on their seed requirements.
The seed requirements according to Edillo will be sent to the seven research stations of the department for the differerent MAOs to pick-up that will be in-charged to facilitate the distribution.
Read more: DA-2 gives free seeds, urges public to grow veggies amid ECQ
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- Category: Region 2
The resiliency of the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) had been tested through many crises, natural calamities and disasters, and issues faced by the region in the past. This year, their commitment and passion for is being tested with the current COVID-19 situation. All over the region, their initiatives and efforts had been recognized by the Local Government Units and other nutrition stakeholders as they bravely accept the challenges they face.
As community-based volunteers, they still ensure implementation of nutrition programs in the barangay. Amidst COVID-19, they still conduct house-to-house supplemental feeding to identified underweight, wasted, and stunted in their respective areas and likewise monitor the weight and height of these children. They also ensure that the family of the malnourished children are among the beneficiaries of relief goods in their barangays. They also advocate for the inclusion of healthy and nutritious fruits, vegetables, egg, fresh meat and poultry in the family food packs given by their barangays to the general population. They also remain vigilant towards the violation of Executive Order 51 or the Milk Code of the Philippines and ensuring that no infant formula milks are being included in the relief goods for distribution among the general population. They also help their respective local agriculture office in distribution of seedlings and seeds for food production, even in times of crisis.
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- Category: Region 2
What are the odds of giving birth to a premature twin? What are the chances of survival of the babies? All the excitement during the first ultrasound knowing a pair of angels will join this world suddenly disappears because of the nightmare of birth complications. What was worse for the parents was facing this trial in the midst of a pandemic situation where the population is under enhanced community quarantine.
On the eighteenth of February 2020, Mr. John Ignes, 21, a resident of Tumauini, and his wife witnessed the coming of their male twins in a public hospital of Tuguegarao City. Mrs. Ignes gave birth to their two premature sons baby Zeus and baby Zach. They were separated from each other and brought to two different private hospitals as they have to undergo special treatments - incubator for both and ventilator for baby Zach.
Can you imagine going through this challenging trial? It was dire and emotional as fifteen days after, Baby Zeus did not survive the series of medications necessary for him to regain strength. This greatly affected Mrs. Ignes, who by that time was already a breastfeeding mom to her sons.
“Una palang po talagang desididona po kaming mag asawa na mag breastfeed po si misis kasi bukod sa masustansya na ay tipid pa po sabulsa,” John shared as he narrated to us how persistent they were to ensure that their children should be exclusively breastfed.
“Yung insidente (Baby Zeus’ death) ay nagbigay ng stress kay misis kaya medyo nahirapan siyang magpasuso,” he added. Their situation worsened when an enhanced community quarantine in the entirety of Luzon was declared due to the 2019 Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19). This brought additional worry to the couple. It limited their movements and capacity to immediately respond to their needs in the hospital.
Read more: Breastfeeding Bayanihan amidst COVID-19 (No breastmilk amid COVID 19? No problem!)
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- Category: Region 2
Under Section 7 of RA 11148, “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-nanay Act” shall be implemented at the barangay level and that the Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) shall be mobilized and provided with resources to carry their tasks. But what are really expected from the BNSs in the implementation of the law? PD 1569 defined our BNSs as a barangay-based volunteer worker that will be responsible for delivering nutrition services and other related activities. And same is expected from the BNSs in the implementation of RA 11148 in their respective barangays. The following are tasks that the BNSs shall implement in regards to RA 11148, among other functions.
Pregnancy (270 Days)
- Create IYCF support groups in the barangay
- Ensure normal nutrition status of women of reproductive age and even during pregnancy to identify nutritionally-at-risk individuals and for early management
- Ensure early tracking of pregnant women to ensure delivery of services
- Provide nutrition counseling (i.e. discuss maternal nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding, IYCF, etc)
- Ensure use of adequately iodized salt in the household of pregnant women
First 6 months of Infancy (180 days)
- Ensure mother-baby friendly practices during and after labor (e.g. Unang Yakap, Unang Hakab, exclusive breastfeeding, etc.)
- Provide Nutrition Counseling (i.e. discussion on exclusive breastfeeding promotion, IYCF, etc.)
- Ensure that pregnant and lactating women join IYCF support groups
- Encourage mothers with their babies to get post-natal check ups
- Monitor length and weight of the baby every month
- Ensure that both the mothers and the babies get appropriate health and nutrition services such as immunization, micronutrient supplementation, growth monitoring and promotion, among others.
