CEBU, Philippines - Local health authorities are calling on business establishments and government offices to promote breastfeeding among their female employees by establishing lactation stations and coming up with stringent policies to ensure compliance.
Republic Act 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 requires private enterprises and government offices to provide lactation stations.
Dr. Parolita Mission, regional nutrition program coordinator of the National Nutrition Council-7, said they are pushing for the setting up of lactation stations to encourage breastfeeding among working mothers.
“We are pushing for an advocacy to continue breastfeeding even if mothers are working. We are laying grounds on setting up lactating stations on business companies,” Mission told reporters yesterday.
Mission was one of the panelists during a forum organized by the Philippine Information Agency in Central Visayas. She said the NNC-7 has collaborated with the various chambers of commerce.
“We are assured that these stations will be increased. Some companies are still on the process of putting up these stations… In Cebu, we have in malls and terminals and other public places,” she said.
Mission said more than 50 percent of local government units had already put in place lactation stations.
Mission said they are also working on to provide priority seats for breastfeeding mothers. The policy was already implemented in public buses in some areas in Regions 10 and 12.
Meanwhile, the NNC-7 will observe the 42nd Nutrition Month in July. This year’s observance has a theme: “First 1,000 days ni baby, pahalagahan para sa malusog na kinabukasan.”
The month-long celebration will kick off with a fashion show of designers’ maternity collections at the SM Seaside City Cebu alongside a photo contest and food preparation video contest.
This year’s observance of Nutrition Month aims to increase the awareness of the importance of proper nutrition and early childhood care and development during the first 1,000 days of the life of the young.
Mission said quality nutrition during the first days brings a significant impact on the child’s life since it is the period of rapid growth wherein energy and nutrient deficiencies can have a long term consequences.
The advocacy covers three faces of life cycle: (1) promotion and support of maternal nutrition before and during lactation; (2) exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months after the delivery of the child, and (3) giving appropriate complementary food to children starting on the sixth month while continuing breastfeeding up to two years and beyond.
The 1,000 days start from the first day of conception of the child until two years old. — (FREEMAN)