Cebu City -- The National Nutrition Council Region VII (NNC 7) celebrated the National Breastfeeding Awareness Month in August to raise awareness on the importance of and to further promote breastfeeding. The celebration was done through NNC 7’s virtual program e-HISGOT (Educational Health and Nutrition Information-Sharing Geared Towards Development) on 19 August 2021. With the theme “Tulong-Tulong sa Pagpapasuso sa First 1,000 Days!”, the celebration emphasized the importance of breastfeeding as a highly beneficial public health intervention for mothers and children on the First 1000 days,
The educational offering aimed to promote to the netizens the concept that breastfeeding is a shared responsibility of the family, community, and the society. I also emphasized that breastfeeding campaign needs a whole of society approach to promote breastfeeding practices especially in the First 1000 Days.
Breastfeeding is one of the safest and most effective ways to ensure a child’s health. It is known as the first vaccine and ideal food for infants. With the nutrients it provides, it gives protection to infants from infection, illnesses, and lifestyle-related diseases in the future. Breastmilk provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs. Mothers are advised to exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first six months of life while giving complementary foods and continuing breastfeeding up to two years and beyond.
Resource persons during the activity were Dr. Irish C. Mangilimotan, Chair, Breastfeeding Committee of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and Ms. Kathleen Marie S. Omictin, RHM of Barangay Pasihagon, Siquijor, Siquijor. The former discussed the theme and elaborated on breastfeeding and COVID-19 while the latter shared to the viewers how she is maintaining a functional breastfeeding support group in her barangay.
The online event conducted via Facebook live at the National Nutrition Council Region VII official Facebook page gained 825 views and 3,800 reach with 318 shares, reactions, and comments from the general public. // NO I Mary Bliss Joy P. Iguana, RND
