ZAMBOANGA CITY, Sept. 16 to orient Public Information Officers (IOs) and Human Resource Officers of the essentials of Exclusive Breastfeeding and be a pool of advocates on breastfeeding, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) conducted today a whole day “Seminar for Breastfeeding Advocates in the Workplace.” NNC Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Maria Del Pilar Pamela Tarroza said the seminar hopes to seek the commitment of the participants to help in the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding in the workplace as breastfeeding practice in the country has deteriorated as shown in the results of the 7th National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI).
“The National Nutrition survey result revealed that among infants zero to five (0-5) months old, only 36 out of every 100 were exclusively breastfeed; 37 of every 100 were breastfed and at the same time given complementary food and 27 of every 100 infants were given formula milk and other food,” NPC Tarroza was quoted as saying. The Nutrition Program Coordinator affirmed two common factors as contributory to the cessation of breastfeeding or non-exclusive breastfeeding of mothers which include “mothers’ perception that she has no or inadequate or very little amount of breast milk,” she said. Tarroza added, “mothers’ returning to work within four to eight weeks after delivery into a work environment that is not conducive to continue breastfeeding or the absence of a lactation room in the workplace” asnumber two factor why the withdrawal of mothers form breastfeeding their child.
Tarroza said “the reason why we are having this seminar is for the participants to help us and be our allies in the promotion of breastfeeding.” “Advocate to women in your workplace especially to those of reproductive age to continue breastfeeding,” Tarroza was quoted as saying. The seminar also emphasized on the rationale in establishing “lactation room” in the workplace. “Help us in seeking the support of your agency to provide lactation facility to encourage our mothers in the workplace to continue breastfeeding,” NPC Tarroza said to the participants.
The passage of Republic Act 10028 otherwise known as the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 served to strengthen and support the promotion and protection of breastfeeding in the workplace. Close to 40 participants from government sector and private establishments attended the activity.
