PALO, Leyte - A day before the month of August ends, Buntis Congress 2022 was conducted in the municipality of Paranas in Samar. August is designated as the National Breastfeeding Month (NBM). This year’s NBM theme is “Step Up for Breastfeeding: Educate and Support.”
This year, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF are calling on governments to allocate increased resources to protect, promote and support breastfeeding policies and programs, especially for the most vulnerable families living in emergency settings.
The theme seeks to involve governments, communities, and individuals to raise awareness about sustainable breastfeeding environments. The celebration aims to raise awareness about breastfeeding and its advantages.
The town of Paranas through the leadership of Mayor Eunice U. Babalcon, holds a Buntis Congress as part of the NBM celebration. Before the congress starts, a zumba dance for pregnant women was done. Vice Mayor Yolanda T. Tan gladly welcomed the pregnant women and other attendees.
She said that to become pregnant though physiologic for a woman, also put dangers among them. Hence, according to Tan prenatal services should be availed by pregnant women for their safety.
Meantime, Municipal Health Officer Dr. Francis Langi sets the tone of the congress by discussing the Concepts of Buntis Congress. After which Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo, Jr. discussed Nutrition in Pregnancy.
He elucidated first the physiologic changes during pregnancy. He also discussed the cycle of undernutrition and its consequences. He highlighted the recommended care for pregnant women including developing birth plans, regular check-ups, promotion of healthy lifestyles, proper nutrition in pregnancy and food, drugs and drinks contraindicated during pregnancy.
Other topics included danger signs of pregnancy and breastfeeding and nutrition which was discussed by Dr. Maria Lea Cambas-Justo, an obstetrician-gynecologist. Dr. Justo discussed the importance and advantages of breastfeeding to both the mothers and infants.
Close to more than 50 pregnant women attended the said activity. #RNPC-CPD
