The first week of August is observed as "Mother and Baby Friendly Hospital Week" in the Philippines every year. This activity is covered by Proclamation No. 14, issued in 1992 by the late President Fidel V. Ramos. This is to request that MOTHER AND BABY-FRIENDLY HOSPITALS receive national recognition.

The Republic Act No. 7600, also known as the Rooming-In and Breastfeeding Act of 1992, and Executive Order No. 51, also known as "The National Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, Breastmilk Supplements, and Related Products," are hereby ordered to be fully implemented and strictly enforced by the Department of Health and all other government departments, agencies, and instrumentalities.

The greatest meal for infants is breastmilk, which is also the first preventive measure a human being can ever receive at birth and nature's first vaccination. An environment that is favorable for the early beginning of nursing and handling is created through rooming in or putting the infant together with the mother as soon as possible after birth.

Mostly, it is a standard procedure in the majority of hospitals to separate newborns from their mothers and keep them in nurseries where they are fed starter formula and prelacteals rather than colostrum and human milk.

Adopting a national and individual pro-breastfeeding, mother and baby-friendly policy by hospitals does not restrict women’s freedom of choice but rather grants them the right to exercise it in the context of scientific advice rather than for-profit promotion.

By reducing costs associated with the upkeep of formula rooms and nurseries, the procurement of feeding bottle sets and milk formulas, as well as other expenses like power and water, breastfeeding and rooming in can help hospitals and other healthcare facilities save money.

The World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund started the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative around the world with the assistance of other international non-governmental organizations.

More hospitals in the Philippines are becoming known as "Baby-Friendly Hospitals," which allow patients to stay on-site, support breastfeeding, and forbid the use of artificial milk replacements.

PDO I Kimberly Tanador, RND

References:

MOTHER AND BABY FRIENDLY HOSPITAL WEEK

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1992/07/31/proclamation-no-14-s-1992-2/