KIDAPAWAN CITY---The Local Government of Kidapawan City thru the City Nutrition Office conducted a culmination program in celebration of the Breastfeeding Awareness Month with the theme, “Tulong-tulong sa Pagpapasuso sa First 1000 days”. The said activity was held on August 25-26, 2021 at Habitat-Brgy. Health Station, Barangay Sudapin, Kidapawan City.
In tangent with the Breastfeeding Awareness Month, the activity also aims to gather breastmilk donors for a cause which was participated by 13 mothers. Hon. Marites Malaluan, SP Committee on Health, expressed in her message that the city is now striding efforts to scale up health and nutrition interventions, hence teeing off their plans for establishing Human Milk Bank.
City Nutrition Action Officer Ms. Melanie Espina also revealed that the expressed milk from the breastmilk donors will also support a newborn in Brgy. Birada who lost her mother upon delivery due to Eclampsia. She then added that the Nutrition Office committed to supply breastmilk to the said newborn for six (6) months.
On the otherhand, NO II Aurel representing NNC XII, served as Resource Person for this two-day activity who discussed about the First 1000 days and the Importance of Breastfeeding. Other highlight of the activity was the Orientation of Breastmilk Donors facilitated by the City’s Medical Technologist-Ms. Tessa Mae Saguindan. Conduct of Laboratory sample of identified breastmilk donors was also done on the first day as part of the Breastmilk donation protocol.
During the lecture, NO II Aurel emphasized that Breastmilk is dubbed as the “liquid gold” loaded with nutrients and antibodies essential for their infant’s growth and developmental needs. It is highly recommended that babies must be exclusively breastfed from birth to six (6) months of age. Further, introduction of appropriate complementary foods at six months while continuing to breastfeed until two years of age are the recommended feeding practices to ensure adequate nutrition of the child. (NO II Aurel/OIC-NPC Flores)
