Cebu City – The National Nutrition Council Region VII joined this year’s Big Latch On – Hakab Na, CEBU held on 06 August 2016 at the Mountain View Wing, SM Seaside City, SRP, Cebu City. The Big Latch On (BLO) is a global movement on breastfeeding that aims to boost awareness on health, economic and environmental benefits of breastfeeding as part of the National Breastfeeding Awareness Week celebration. This worldwide event aims to create a lasting network for the community with the guidance of key breastfeeding supporters at the Big Latch On--Hakab Na Cebu, a local support system for breastfeeding mothers.

About 800 pregnant and lactating women showed up to be counted.  The Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) - Cebu Chapter, Philippine Nurses Association – Cebu Chapter, and SM Cares organized the event in coordination with the DOH RO 7, the Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines – Cebu Chapter, Glory Reborn and the National Nutrition Council Region VII. The organizers were overwhelmed with the turn-out of participants. According the Dr. Marinni T. Esguerra of the PPS “We are expecting around 500 pregnant and lactating moms and we have actually exceeded the 700 seats we have prepared! WOW!!!

The Big Latch On – Hakab Na Cebu featured lectures from medical practitioners as well as sharing knowledge on breastfeeding and complementary feeding with other breastfeeding mothers.  The event highlight was the simultaneous breastfeeding of all lactating women present in the spacious hall of the premier mall of the city.

“I am happy and proud to be able to attend this activity” said Ms. Erika Lagunzad, one of the participants, when asked for insights about the activity. She along with other mothers from Glory Reborn are no strangers to this type of event having participated last year’s BLO.

The event was part of the 2016 celebration of the National Breastfeeding Awareness Week by virtue of Proclamation No. 1113, s. 2006 declaring August 1 to 7 of every year as World Breastfeeding Week.

NNC 7 Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Dr. Parolita A. Mission stressed the importance of ensuring the proper nourishment of children especially during the first 1000 days or the period of pregnancy (270 days) which starts from conception followed by the first two years of life (730 days) considered golden window of opportunity for the child’s growth and development. //NVS