Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental -- As mandated and declared through the Republic Act 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009, August is declared as National Breastfeeding Month.

During this month, the National Nutrition Council, the highest policymaking and coordinating body on nutrition, doubles its campaign efforts and recommends that mothers should exclusively breastfeed their babies for six months, and provide complementary foods thereafter.

For this year’s celebration, the theme is, “Tulong-tulong sa Pagpapasuso sa First 1000 Days!” The theme emphasizes that breastfeeding is a shared responsibility of the family, community, government, and other members of society.

Breastfeeding is highly recommended and is considered a greatly beneficial public health intervention to prevent malnutrition, especially in the First 1000 days of the child. Protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding would help ensure the child’s proper growth and development in the First 1000 days.

The Department of Health through the National Nutrition Council calls on the public, through the community’s breastfeeding support groups to be active and help ensure breastfeeding practices of the population. Mothers need to practice Breastfeeding TSEK (Tama, Sapat at EKsklusibo).

Breastfeeding TSEK means:

Tama – immediate skin-to-skin contact between the baby and the mother and breastfeeding should be initiated within an hour after birth,

Sapat – mother’s produced milk is enough for baby’s nutrient requirements. Especially during the first few days of the child’s life, little breastmilk is enough,

EKsklusibo – only breastmilk should be given to the baby and no other liquids, even water, and vitamins. Breastmilk has all the water and nutrients that the baby needs for the first six months after which the baby should be given appropriate complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding. // ND II Lyneth Anne A. Amahit