Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU, June 28 (PIA) – Companies must provide
lactating station for its female employees who are breastfeeding their infants
amid government’s advocacy on exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months
of life.
Dr. Parolita Mission, regional nutrition program
coordinator of National Nutrition Council (NNC-7), said the first 1,000
days of a baby’s life is crucial for optimal physical and mental growth and
development.
“The first 1,000 days of a baby starting from
conception until two years of age is a golden window of opportunity to nurture
the child for the best possible growth and development, both physically and
mentally,” said Mission during this morning’s forum of the Association of
Government Information Officers - Philippine Information Agency 7 that featured
the observance of July as National Nutrition Month.
According to Mission, the first 1,000 days are
broken into three phases which are the pregnancy period of nine months or
equivalent to 270 days; the first six months of life or 180 days where pure
breast milk is given to the baby; and the remaining 550 days or until two years
of age where the baby is introduced to slight solid foods or complementary
feeding.
“Exclusive breastfeeding for six months of a
baby’s life is part of the crucial 1,000 days,” said Mission.
Executive Order 51 issued in 1986 by the late
former President Corazon Aquino stipulated the implementation of measures to
encourage and promote breastfeeding to ensure adequate nutrition to infants.
Breast milk has colostrum which contains antibodies to protect newborns against
disease.
Mission however, acknowledged that most mothers
are working to augment family income and that this should not be a hindrance to
the practice of breastfeeding.
Under RA 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding
Promotion Act of 2009, establishments are required to put up a lactating
station in the workplace for their female workers who breastfeed their babies,
said Mission.
“We are linking with the different business
chambers to inform them about this law and the need to put up a lactating
station,” bared Mission adding that they are gaining ground in the advocacy but
much needs to be done in this area.
Central Visayas ranks third among all the
regions in the country in the practice of exclusive breastfeeding for six
months with an average of 4.4 months, said Mission.
Mission also said that since some breastfeeding
mothers cannot bring their baby to the workplace unless they have a ‘yaya’ to
take care of the baby while the mother is working, lactating mothers can
instead use the lactating station to pump out breast milk and place this inside
the refrigerator for storage.
Mission said the major factors why most
companies cannot establish a lactating station
are the additional cost it entails as
refrigerator is required for storage of the breast milk and the inadequate
office space.
But Mission said space is not an issue as a
company can just designate a small area at a corner and place a curtain barrier
as a lactating station although requiring micro and small companies to buy a
fridge on top of additional increase in electric bill is an additional expense.
There is an exemption to the law which includes
that if there are only a few women employees then the establishment of a
lactating station is not practical, said Mission.
This year’s theme of the 2016 National Nutrition
Month celebration is focused on ‘Baby’s First 1,000 Days Pahalagahan Para sa
Malusog na Kinabukasan,” or “Nurture Your Baby’s First 1,000 Days for a Healthy
Future.” (rmn/fcr/PIA7)