More than a thousand breastfeeding advocates gathered before the break of dawn last February 4, 2012 at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City for the advocacy campaign “Run to Save Lives! Run for Breastfeeding!” Groups and individuals, young and old, hurdled the 5k run and 2K walk to raise awareness on and gather advocates for the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding to improve child survival. Three lady and three gentlemen runners with the best time were awarded cash prizes.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), high coverage of optimal breastfeeding practices could avert 13% of the 10.6 million yearly global deaths of children five years old and below. Evidences on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and early initiation show that: a) babies who were not breastfed in the first 6 months of their lives are 25 times more likely to die than those who experienced exclusive breastfeeding from the time they were born; b) the timing of initiation of breastfeeding is important as there is a higher risk of death among infants with longer delay in the initiation of breastfeeding.; c) hospitalized low birth weight Infants who were fed with formula milk had 4 times the incidence of serious illness compared to those infants who were breastfed; d) there is a 2-4 fold increase in neonatal mortality rate (NMR) in not receiving colostrum; and, e) there is a 5-13% reduction in NMR with exclusive breastfeeding.
In addition, breastfeeding not only saves babies from death, but also provides long-term benefits. Breastfed babies do better in school cognitive tests by as much as 4.9 points. There is a positive association of breastfeeding with educational attainment.
The National Nutrition Council Governing Board (GB) and Salt Iodization Advisory Board (SIAB) approved on 12 January 2012 four policy resolutions including the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2011-2016 and the National Salt Iodization Program Strategic Plan for 2011-2016.
The PPAN spells out how the country will reduce malnutrition under the Aquino Administration. The plan consists of priority nutrition actions at national and local levels that target families particularly mothers, infants and children who are most vulnerable to malnutrition. The Governing Board composed of ten government agencies including the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Labor and Employment, committed to provide budgets to support PPAN implementation.
Good news for breastfeeding moms who live in the cities of Taguig, Muntinlupa, Caloocan and Pasig or who will visit these cities! A total of 72 breastfeeding stations have been established in the said cities. These breastfeeding stations are in support to the implementation of Republic Act 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 which mandates all health and non-health facilities, establishments or institutions including public places to establish lactation or breastfeeding stations.
The breastfeeding stations are located at:
Barely on its first season of airing on Philippine television, the educational TV program “Why Not?”, produced by the National Nutrition Council, in partnership with the ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc., was chosen as ANAK TV SEAL AWARDEE for 2011. Much is due to the sincere dedication and sheer creativity of the show’s entire production team imbued with the hope of effectively educating the public, particularly children, on the importance of good nutrition through entertainment. The NNC family proudly congratulates the agency’s production counterpart -- writers, editor, guest talents/ resource persons and all its production crew for a job well done. Awarding ceremonies was held on 08 December 2011.
The ANAK TV SEAL is a national award bestowed by various stakeholders (parents, educators, business and media people, government, NGOs, the religious sector, and the youth) to locally- and internationally produced TV programs airing on Philippine television which they consider as most child-sensitive.
WHY NOT? is an edu-infotainment program that airs every Saturday morning at ABS-CBN Channel 2 targeting children in order to encourage positive eating behaviors for better nutrition. Each episode tackles the nutritional benefits of a specific food commodity and other information such as planting, selecting, storing, preparation and cooking. The nutrition show which features child stars Nash Aguas and Kelly Nakanishi, encourages children, and even adults, to eat a variety of foods every day, particularly various kinds of vegetables.
Children find the show not only educational but entertaining as well since nutrition is taught in a fun and interactive way.
The SWS survey on self-rated hunger for the second quarter of 2011 brought good news as hunger incidence dropped to 15.1 percent, 5.4 percentage points lower than the 20.5 percent reported for the first quarter of the year.
But there is a threat to the good news as prices of fuel have increased recently and present a major threat to the hunger situation.
The Philippines is committed to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which include MDG 1 on eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, specific nutrition-related targets include, halving the proportion of households with per capita intake below 100% dietary energy requirements.
Pursuant to this, the Cabinet Cluster on Human Development and Poverty Reduction (HDPR) has agreed to pursue intensified action for hunger alleviation and improved nutrition. In particular, the NNC was tasked to formulate the Integrated Action for Hunger Alleviation and Improved Nutrition (HAIN) in Convergence Areas.
Katumbas ay Biyaya Season 6 is a 30-minute radio program that tackles nutrition and health related topics. The program airs on DZRH every Saturday, 10:30 - 11:00 am.