28 September 2021, Cagayan de Oro City – The Regional Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Taskforce led by the Department of Health Center for Health Development – Northern Mindanao (DOH CHD-NM) conducted its 3rd quarter monitoring to select areas in Misamis Oriental last 23-24 September 2021.
The Task Force members were as follows: DOH CHD-NM’s Ms. Telesfora G. Madelo, RND as the team leader, with Ms. Pamela Legaria, PCMS Julie Ann Dukmog of Philippine National Police 10 and Ms. Vazamija Therese A. Villasi of National Nutrition Council Region X.
Select areas were visited such as the bus terminals, port and Rural Health Units (RHU) of the Municipalities of Balingasag, Balingoan, Salay, Gitagum and Laguindingan.
The monitoring was conducted in pursuant to Republic Act 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 to protect working women by providing safe and healthful working conditions, taking into account their maternal functions, and such facilities and opportunities that will enhance their welfare and enable them to realize their full potential in the service of the nation. Likewise, it is mandated that all health and non-health facilities, establishments or institutions shall establish lactation stations.
The lactation stations shall be adequately provided with the necessary equipment and facilities, such as: lavatory with soap and water, table, comfortable chair, refrigerator, manual breast pump, electrical fan/air conditioning unit, clock, electrical outlet for breastfeeding pump, expressed breastmilk container, logbook, masking tape, ballpen, tissue paper, medicine cabinet and pedal garbage bin.
During the monitoring, Balingoan Port, RHUs and Bus Terminals of Balingoan, Salay and Gitagum were not able to comply with the requirements identified in the checklist for breastfeeding rooms or lactation stations. Further, lactation stations in Balingoan and Balingasag Bus Terminals need improvement specifically on the signage and labels, the supplies and the type of chair which will be used by the mothers. Bus Terminal of Laguindingan was not able to maintain their breastfeeding room since the terminal is being used as PNP training site.
After each monitoring activity, the Task Force provided recommendations and suggestions on how they can make their lactation stations functional. Moreover, DOH CHD-NM will communicate the monitoring results to the respective LGUs, and present the same during the IYCF-TF 4th quarter meeting on November 2021.
The promotion, protection, and support for breastfeeding is supported by the law and all establishments, private or public, are called to help mothers provide the best nutrition for their babies through breastmilk. (NO I Vazamija Therese A. Villasi)
