By Venus G. Villanueva
Some six (6) Aklan towns participated in the Synchronized Breastfeeding Worldwide on August 8, 2007 at exactly 10:00 a.m. Mothers in Aklan municipalities gathered together in a given locality and breastfed their babies at exactly 10:00 a.m. up to 10:01, according to Evangelina Gallega of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Kalibo, Aklan.
August 1-7 was declared by the President of the Philippines as World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) through Proclamation No. 1113 signed on August 1, 2006, in consonance with the celebration every year of WBW by 120 countries of the world.
Proclamation No. 1113 emphasizes that latest scientific evidence have shown that breastfeeding provides protection against major illnesses in infants and children such as respiratory infections, diarrhea and malnutrition and reduces risk of degenerative diseases well into adulthood; and ensures maternal health by protecting against hemorrhages, uterine prolapse, anemia, certain cancers; osteoporosis, diabetes and other illnesses as well as by facilitating the recovery of mothers from the rigors of pregnancy and birthing, and by helping prevent closely-spaced pregnancy.
"Breastfeeding is the most far-reaching and least costly Poverty Alleviation Strategy of developing countries, especially in the Philippines where the breastfeeding culture is diminishing beyond all reasons. It addresses the issue of national health aside from the issues of food security, economy, ecology, empowerment of wo-men, bonding between mother and child, love and faith," the proclamation stressed.
For Aklan, support for Synchronized Breastfeeding Worldwide of Governor Carlito S. Marquez has been solicited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 6 headed by OIC Regional Director Teresita Rosales.
"This year’s event aims to provide measures on how the breastfeeding movement around the world is progressing every year. This movement further aims to achieve the number worldwide that makes all nations cooperate in reviving the breastfeeding culture, and to establish simultaneous breastfeeding as a form of universal prayer for peace and thanksgiving for the gift of motherhood and breastfeeding,"Rosales said in her letter to Gov. Marquez. /MP
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