4 May 2020, Cagayan de Oro City – Among the most at-risk population groups during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic are the pregnant women and children. Because of this crisis, pregnant and lactating mothers may have difficulties in seeking consultations due to the limited movement of people to contain the spread of the virus.
To help mothers and caregivers address their problems, questions and concerns specifically about infant and young child feeding (IYCF), the Regional IYCF Task Force through the National Nutrition Council (NNC) X and Cagayan de Oro City Breastfeeding and IYCF Task Force launched their respective IYCF hotlines.
Hotlines 0917-980-3388 of NNC X and 0945-711-8925 of Cagayan de Oro CNC are operational every Mondays to Fridays at 9:00 AM-4:00 PM and 9:00 AM-12:00 PM, respectively.
The NNC IYCF X Hotline is being manned by NNC X staff in partnership with DOH Nutritionist-Dietitians deployed in Misamis Oriental Province while City Nutrition Program Coordinator Sherill Faith P. Española manages the IYCF hotline of Cagayan de Oro City.
Since the opening of both hotlines, among the questions received are inquiries about proper positioning and latching, how to manage sore nipples and if lactating mothers can still breastfeed their child even if they are expecting another child.
The initiative aims to help pregnant and lactating mothers address their concerns and queries on feeding their young ones and also to monitor possible violations on Executive Order 51 or “Milk Code” of 1986 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) and DOH AO 2017-0017 entitled, “Guidelines on the Acceptance and Processing Foreign and Local Donations During Emergency and Disaster Situations”.
NNC Nutrition Cluster Advisory #1 s. 2020 emphasizes in its third message, “Promote, protect and support exclusive breastfeeding only for infants 0-6 months old. Breastmilk substitutes that undermine breastfeeding such as infant milk formula, powdered milk, and other milk; feeding bottles, teats, and commercial baby food donations are NOT allowed and should NOT be included in the generaldistribution of emergency food packs, in accordance to Executive Order 51 or the Milk Code and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), Republic Act 11148 and its IRR, and current DOH Guidelines.”
Health of the pregnant mothers is vital to avoid possible contract of infectious diseases. (Read here how to boost the immunity of the pregnant women.) Infants and young children, especially those that were not given optimum health and nutrition, are more prone to malnutrition. Undernutrition makes children in particular much more vulnerable to disease and death. Experts recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 0-6 months and appropriate complementary feeding with continued breastfeeding from 6 months onward. (Read article re guide to complementary feeding here.)
Through this initiative, NNC hopes to reach more pregnant and lactating mothers and caregivers, and assist them in any way during this trying time. All this and other initiatives to give the pregnant mothers and their babies the best start through optimizing nutrition early in life, especially during the First 1000 Days. (NO I Arlie Joy O. Damiles)
