Infants in emergency situations have special needs for disease-fighting factors, optimal nutrition, reliable food source and comfort that can only be ensured by breastfeeding. However, it is observed that there are mothers who are seeking for milk formula donations to feed their infants since according to the mothers their production of breastmilk was affected due to the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) brought by the COVID-19 outbreak. With this, a lot of good-hearted individuals responded and extended their help through donating infant milk formula to families who are in need but, despite with these good intentions, everybody should be reminded that even during these times of crisis, the existence of E.O 51 or the Milk Code of the Philippines is not suspended.
Executive Order (E.O) 51 or the Milk Code of the Philippines is the law that protects and promotes breastfeeding in the Philippines. Under this code is the prohibition of donating breastmilk substitutes including infant milk formula, powdered milk and other milk products; feeding bottles, teats, commercial baby food donations for infants below 3 years of age. This aims to provide safe and adequate nutrition for infants through continued promotion of breastfeeding amidst crisis. These are some of the reasons why mothers should continue to breastfeed their infants during this pandemic:
- It saves your time and money. Now that income sources had been limited, breastfeeding is the most practical way to feed your infants as it is free and available anytime.
- Breastmilk boosts the infant’s immune system. Breastmilk contains antibodies and other components that will protect the infant against various diseases and infections. With the present outbreak of COVID-19, infants highly need breastmilk to protect them from acquisition of the virus.
- Breastmilk is the safest food for the baby. Since access to clean water and other hygienic conditions are compromised during emergencies, using powdered milk formula for the infant may increase the risk of acquiring infections, diarrhea, and other diseases.
- It protects your infant from malnutrition. Failure to provide breastmilk is one of the major causes of infant malnutrition. Breastmilk contains all the nutrients needed by 0-6 months old infants to support the development of the baby. To meet the increasing nutritional requirements of above 6 months old infants, mothers should give nutritionally adequate and complementary food while continuing breastfeeding for up to 2 years or beyond.
Misconceptions and fears that lead to minimizing breastfeeding must be modified with right information. Lactating mothers should be provided with psychological support, counselling and assistance to help them continue practice breastfeeding. Moreover, mothers who stopped breastfeeding due to stress or other reasons must be encouraged to re-lactate. For the good-hearted individuals, donating vegetables, fruits, rice or other necessities are better instead of milk substitutes that may cause more threat to the health and nutrition well-being of children. In any circumstances, with or without emergency situations, breastfeeding remains the safest, healthiest and most reliable source of nutrition for infants.
NO I Angelica O. Pajulas
