CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) - National Nutrition Council (NNC), Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) urged various stakeholders in Central Luzon to support breastfeeding by setting up lactation stations in their respective workplace.
NNC said this is meant to highlight the importance of the first 1,ooo days of life of an individual.
“The first 1000 days has been called the golden window of opportunity and is crucial because this will build the foundation of an individual’s ability to grow, learn, and develop,” NNC Officer-In-Charge Ana Maria Rosaldo said.
This is also anchored on Republic Act 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009, which seeks to encourage, protect and support the practice of breastfeeding.
Furthermore, under the said law, establishments are required to set-up lactation stations in order to provide compensable time for breastfeeding and lactation periods among working mothers.
The lactation station should be a private clean space furnished with all the necessary equipment such as cooling facilities, sink, electrical outlets, small locker, small table, and seats.
Ms. Diane Coryne Ramos of DOLE said the creation of breastfeeding stations in the workplace will allow young infants to acquire all the essential nutrients and energy they need in order to combat illnesses.
Since breastfeeding is nature’s way to nourish and protect young infants, this will further lead to a reduced number of infant deaths caused by malnutrition and other childhood diseases.
“This will not only benefit the infants but also the mothers since this will give them a chance to fulfill their maternal functions and will cause a delay in resumption of normal ovarian cycles and the return of fertility in most women. It will also help them stay fit since this will help them lose the weight they gained from pregnancy,” she added.
Ms. Ramos also explained how workplaces and establishments can benefit from this since this will yield high employee productivity and morale, less absenteeism among workers and greater company loyalty. This will also improve the company’s ability to attract and retain valuable employees since it will foster a family-friendly image in the community.
With all these benefits, she reiterated DOLE’s campaign of creating lactation stations in the workplace by encouraging the management of the different agencies to provide flexible time and complete facility for their employees’ lactation periods.
Ms. Ramos furthered that the management’s support is a key factor in the success of this advocacy. (CLJD/MJLS-PIA 3)
