COTABATO PROVINCE— On September 24, 2021, the Local Government Unit of Makilala launched its Breastmilk Storage Facility/Nutrition Office located at the new building of the Municipal Health Office. The new facility was finally established and materialized through the efforts of the Municipal Nutrition Committee spearheaded by the Municipal Mayor, Hon. Armando M. Quibod, Municipal Nutrition Action Officer, Ms. Lovie D. Ysulan, DOH Nutritionist Dietician Marie Guy S. Boterie RN, and RHU Nutrition Coordinator Sunny Vhie D. Saniel, RN.
Further, the presence of the following guests graced the event, to wit: First Lady Conchita Quibod, representing the Honorable Mayor Armando Quibod, SB Committee member on Health, representative from the Municipal Administrator Office, Dr. Rubelita Aggalut, representing DOH, Dr. Georgina Sorilla, Municipal Health Officer, Ms. Jasmine Regaspi, District Nutrition Program Coordinator-Cotabato Province and representatives from the Provincial Nutrition Committee and NO II Danah Pearl Aurel representing NNCXII.
In her message, MNAO Ysulan recounted how the LGU faced so much struggle following the series of strong earthquakes that devastated their municipality two years ago. With that experience, the MNC also faced challenges in giving of appropriate Nutrition interventions and have identified the lack of breastmilk storage facility as one of the problems during emergencies, particularly for those mothers and/or infants who don’t have access to breastmilk. Ms. Ysulan further mentioned that this accomplishment is just one of the many lined up projects of the MNC in support of the First 1000 Days program.
During the messages of support, NO II Aurel representing OIC-NPC Flores, stressed the seemingly unlimited benefits of breastfeeding or breastmilk. Breastmilk is the safest and most cost-effective way to protect newborns, young children, and even mothers from all forms of morbidity and mortality, especially now that we are still in the midst of a pandemic that is posing greater hazards to human health.
NNC believes that this initiative also suggests the need to take a closer look at the experience of LGUs that were able to reap the benefits of good nutrition practices which other LGUs can learn from and consider replication for improved health and nutrition outcomes in their respective communities.(DPA, AMF)
