DOH urges moms to breastfeed their babies

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) will beef up its campaign for breastfeeding amid the 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) that only 50 percent of Filipino mothers are exclusively breastfeeding their newborns.

In a statement, the DOH said it would intensify its information and education programs about the benefits of breast milk to encourage mothers to breastfeed rather than feed their babies with infant formula or cow’s milk.

“Since the country is disaster-prone, many natural and man-made disasters inflict damage to lives and property. In these situations, infants and children are the most vulnerable to disease, malnutrition and death,” the DOH noted.

The announcement was made as the world observes World Breast Feeding Week held during the first week of August.

The DOH stressed that breastfeeding could become a “life-saving intervention” because it could provide the “greatest protection” for infants who are vulnerable to diseases and deaths in emergency situations.

“Because of the limited access to clean drinking water, fuel and utensils (necessities in bottle-feeding), infants and children are at risk for diarrhea. Diarrhea is the tenth leading cause of death among infants,” the DOH added.

The latest NDHS revealed that the 2008 figure is three percent lower than the 53 percent record in 2003.

The survey showed that only 34 percent of infants below six months are being breastfed exclusively for two years as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

After this period, parents are advised to continue breastfeeding, along with complementary feeding.  

The Mother and Child Nurses Association of the Philippines has underscored the need for mothers to observe the three E’s of breastfeeding – early, exclusive and extended.

“Start right away after delivery, do exclusive breastfeeding up to six months and continue for up to two years. We say exclusive from birth up to six months because breast milk contains everything that your baby needs at that stage in their development. They don’t need formula or water; breast milk is complete nutrition,” said MCNAP president Estelita Galutira.

Galutira maintained that breastfed children are less likely to have ear infections, allergies, vomiting, diarrhea, pneumonia, juvenile diabetes, and meningitis.

“Not only is it the ideal way to bond with your child, it also helps stimulate hormones that shrink your uterus back to its pre-pregnancy size. Breastfeeding also helps you lose weight after pregnancy because it uses up the special kind of fat you put on with pregnancy before it becomes an established part of your body shape,” she added. –Sheila Crisostomo (philstar.com)