Breast Milk Is The Best Reason Why Barangay Guinatuan Has No Malnourished Kids

Yes, breast milk is still the best. This is one of the primary reasons why Guinatuan, a far-flung barangay in Madalag, Aklan was adjudged as the Best Barangay Nutrition Committee in Aklan. (Is it due to its container? No!)

Breast milk is the most complete food for babies, economical, nutritious and the safest. Indeed, breast milk is guaranteed melamine-free.

Exclusive breast-feeding by mothers of Barangay Guinatuan of their babies is the most possible reason why school kids in the barangay all attained normal weights.

“From pregnancy, midwives and our physician took care of mothers in our barangay. They conducted regular pre-natal check-ups, and advocated for exclusive breastfeeding of babies after deliveries. They rendered other much needed services for babies and children like regular vaccination, and deworming. They gave vitamins A and iron. Other government agencies helped like the Department of Education which advocated cleanliness of surroundings and backyard vegetable gardening,” related Guinatuan Barangay Captain Dexter V. Recustodio in his response after receiving the award.

Governor Carlito S. Marquez handed the award to him. He was assisted by DepEd Division Superintendent Victorina S. Laroza during the Provincial Awarding Ceremony of Aklan’s Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholars, Barangay Nutrition Committees and Municipal Nutrition Committees held recently.

Crescini Roxas, Nutrition Dietician II of the Provincial Health Office led in the conduct of the provincewide evaluation. Her group was amazed with the performance of Brgy. Guinatuan concerning the government’s nutri-tion program.

“Since conducting MELLPI-PPAN in the ‘80s, it is only now that we have come across a Barangay with no malnourished kids. They had no below normal low weighing children, or those we used to call as moderately malnourished. There was no severely malnourished kid. This is a good record, and we hope that in the future, we will have more barangays in Aklan with the same astounding performance,” Roxas said.

For his part, Governor Marquez said, “the province is firm in its commitment to help Aklanons eradicate malnutrition, because it affects society. Presently, the province is having a contest among farmers on vegetable gardening.

We hope to make vegetable farming a lucrative livelihood in Aklan. We envision that someday, we will have a storage facility for our farm produce here – so we can supply the needs of Boracay Island instead of the stakeholders there sourcing their needs from other provinces. We urge our people to plant vegetables, as this will help solve poverty incidence in Aklan, and enable as to reach our dream for Aklan’s progress.”

Hearing the words of Guinatuan Brgy. Captain Dexter Recustodio on breastfeeding, Governor Marquez agreed. According to him, babies should not be fed with formulas derived from animals’ milk, because animals’ milk is for animals, and breast milk is for babies (human). (by Venus G. Villanueva) /MP