Breastmilk is an irreplaceable gift a mother can give to her baby. It is also the best food for babies in the first 1000 days of life. Aside from the nutrients and protection, breastfeeding offers several benefits to the mother and child.
In the Philippines, pursuant to the Republic Act (RA) No. 10028, the month of August is declared as National Breastfeeding Awareness Month (NBAM) to increase public awareness of the importance of breastfeeding. The month-long celebration is being led by the Department of Health (DOH).
This year’s celebration with the theme “Sama-samang Itaguyod Tamang Kaalaman at Kalinga sa Pagpapasuso” aims to strengthen the government, health system, workplaces, and communities to be educated and empowered to provide a nurturing environment for families in support to breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding may be natural but it is a learned act. To sustain it, breastfeeding mothers also need support from family members and the community. Likewise, women and families may also be educated that there are ways to prepare oneself, during pregnancy and immediate postpartum, for breastfeeding.
The celebration also emphasizes that mothers and their support groups must know the benefits of exclusive and continued breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months old and continued breastfeeding up to two (2) years and beyond with appropriate complementary feeding is found as the most ideal intervention to curb malnutrition. So, the communities must get together to support mothers to breastfeed.
In addition, this observance highlights that the general public must be made aware of the role of the government and communities to support the mother and infant dyad, especially in the first 1000 days of the child’s life. The government efforts include the implementation of the national policies, namely: (1) RA No. 11148 known as the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act” which outlines the packages of intervention such as Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices; and (2) Executive Order (EO) No. 51 or the “Milk Code” which ensures that unadulterated breastfeeding education is available to the public and that there is minimal or no commercial marketing of infant formulas, milk bottles, etc.
In Region 10, the Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Task Force led by the DOH Center for Health Development – Northern Mindanao jump-started the celebration by launching the Breastfeeding-Seat Initiative. In support to the 2022 NBAM, aside from the hanging of tarpaulin, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) X also intensified information education by posting social media materials on the NNC X Facebook Page. Further, the NNC X likewise supports the initiatives of DOH CHD-NM and the local government units who conduct various activities for the celebration.
Campaigns on the importance of breastfeeding must be intensified. Breastfeeding is free, however, there are still mothers that are limited to exclusively breastfeed their babies due to various reasons. Hence, breastfeeding women must be provided with support and care at all times.
The 2022 NBAM celebration calls everyone to take part in promoting breastfeeding. All the actors at all levels including the families must step up in their support to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding not only promotes the bond between the mother child, but it also gives the children the best start in life. (Development Management Officer II Arlie Joy O. Damiles / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 09631090198)
References:
World Breastfeeding Week 2022: Step up for Breastfeeding. (n.d.). Pan American Health Organization. https://www.paho.org/en/campaigns/world-breastfeeding-week-2022-step-breastfeeding#:~:text=1%2D7%20AUGUST%202022,an%20important%20breastfeeding%20promotion%20strategy.
World Health Organization. (2019, November 11). Breastfeeding. https://www.who.int/health-topics/breastfeeding
