Health Link

Breastfeeding Promotion

by Cecille R. de Lemos

Women Aklan, a civil organization of empowered women entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs, celebrated the Breast-feeding Month last August. Exclusive breastfeeding was promoted via the radio stations. It was extended until the first week of Sept. by conducting small group discussions among mothers.

The group was led by this writer, the chairperson of the committee on family, health and wellness, together with breastfeeding champion, Ms. Euelah Magwale and baby Yuan. In addition to information, Ms. Magwale’s presence provided a real-life mother example on how she manages motherhood.

Women-Aklan, in line with its advocacy for family, health and wellness practices, is working in tandem with the government and other non-government organizations, is under the dynamic leadership of its president, Rose Flores Nepomuceno.

On August 15, 2009, the Aklan Provincial Health Office with the Department of Health guested in the Kapehan sa Aklan. The Breastfeeding Month in the Philippines is celebrated every August of each year. This year’s theme, "Gatas ni Nanay Laging Handa sa Oras ng Pangangailangan" focuses on the importance of breastfeeding as vital emergency response.

The Kapehan high-lighted the importance of breastfeeding in normal situation and during emergencies through inter-active discussion among the members of the tri-media with the following panelists: Dr. Victor A. Santamaria, provincial health officer I; Dr. Myrtle M. Pelayo, Aklan DOH rep-resentative; Celia R. de Lemos, breastfeeding program coordinator/provincial BHW coor-dinator; Rossini T. Mortalla, IYCF coor-dinator; Crescini S. Roxas, provincial nutrition program coordinator; and the sharing of experience of Ms. Euelah Magwale, breastfeeding champion in Aklan.

Various groups supported the celebration including Women-Aklan, Northwestern Visayan Colleges, Aklan Federation of Barangay Health Workers, Inc., Aklan Press Club, Inc., Aklan Media Forum, Publishers Association of the Philippines, Philippine Information Agency, and the United States Agency for International Development.

Other activities under-taken were the airing of Media Guide on breast-feeding messages for radio public service announcement at Bombo Radyo and the conduct of Mother/Baby – Friendly Hospital Initiative monitoring by the PHO breastfeeding task force to hospitals in Aklan. /MP