The volunteer mothers of the Breastfeeding Support Groups (BSGs) in CALABARZON played a major and dynamic role in empowering vulnerable groups during the recent Taal Volcano eruption response in Batangas. It also provided a critical boost to the Regional and Local Nutrition Clusters (R/LNC) in ensuring the nutritional status of vulnerable groups which include the children 0-59 months (the most delicate and prone to illness/diseases), pregnant and lactating mothers, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and senior citizens.
In further strengthening systems and capacities in times of disasters and emergencies, the R/LNC personally assessed the status of the vulnerable groups in various evacuation centers and tapped health and nutrition partners to safeguard the welfare of the groups served.
Positive Outcome
The active participation and response of various volunteer mothers of the BSGs and R/LNCs resulted to the increase in the number of mothers practicing breastfeeding (from bottle feeding), increased awareness on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding (which includes the physical, psychological and economic benefits of breastfeeding), and the provision of appropriate and timely complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding.
The active players
The Breastfeeding Ala Eh!, the primary active player of the BSGs in Calabarzon, assisted the Batangas government, the Department of Health (DOH)-Calabarzon, and the National Nutrition Council-Calabarzon on the following: 1) providing counselling to the pregnant and lactating mothers on proper lactation and primary care for babies and on the dangers of resorting to bottle feeding and use of infant formula milk through actual demonstration; 2) assisting the nutrition cluster in relaying the do’s and don’ts, myths and facts on breastfeeding; 3) serving as network for the breastmilk donations from various donors and groups who donated mother and baby supplies. The support group hopped from one evacuation center to the other to ensure that mothers would be provided with the right information on proper care and nutrition for their child.
The Arugaan Foundation Inc. headed by Nanay Ines Fernandez and Nueva Ecija Moms was another BSG key player during the disaster period. They conducted breastfeeding lectures and the tamang pagkain feeding of mothers and children last February 1 at Talaibon Interim Shelter in Ibaan, Batangas. They also demonstrated the proper latching and positioning to mothers with infants and young children. They also addressed the breastfeeding difficulties of mothers and encouraged the mothers practicing bottle-feeding to relactate and provide the best food for their babies.
Equally vigorous are the activated BSGs in cities, municipalities and barangays with evacuees -- composed mainly of the health and nutrition volunteers, our Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) and Barangay Health Workers (BHWs). Their lectures focused not only on breastfeeding but also on complementary feeding for older infants 6-23 months who are depending mostly on follow-on milk.
Additional Activities
The BSGs assisted in the facilitation of pasteurized donor breastmilk (PDM) from Batangas Medical Center and Philippine General Hospital for distribution in evacuation centers needing PDM for infants through cup feeding.
The activated BSGs also conducted actual food demonstration on complementary foods to be given to older infants given the food commodities available in the distributed family food packs. The establishment of community kitchen likewise served as source of complementary food for older infants.
RNC and BSG Success story
The RNCs and the BSGs also assisted mothers who have difficulty with breastfeeding due to medical conditions and personal issues. They were advised to relactate and were given pasteurized donor milk for the period that they are not capable of breastfeeding.
One successful story on relactation was about a mother who thought that she no longer had breastmilk for her two-month old baby. With the help of the BSG peer counselors who taught her the “hand expression teachnique” and “breast compression” to allow her breastmilk to flow. As a result, she was relactated and had her breastmilk supply back. Very happy for what she had personally experienced, she committed to continue breastfeeding her baby. This happened when the DOH-Calabarzon invited the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas BSG to assist at Alfonso Central School evacuation center in Cavite in January 20 this year.
By: Lourdes Bulante-Orongan
