The Provincial Health Office of Negros Oriental is urging public and private institutions to set up lactation stations for working mothers.
Republic Act 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 mandates all public and private establishments to support breastfeeding in the workplace.
To date, only six lactation stations in government offices and private businesses have been established in the Province. These are the Dumaguete City Hall, two in the public market, at CitiMall, at Unitop, and at Cang’s Inc.
These stations allow nursing mothers to wash up, breastfeed, or express their milk comfortably, and store it afterwards.
“So kini na balaud nag hatag mi sa mga inahan na ga pa-suso ug 40 ka minutos nga break alang sa pag express sa ilang milk or alang sa pag patotoy sa ilang mga anak,” said PHO nutritionist Antonietta Delfino during the Kapihan sa PIA forum held in observance of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month.
(This law gives mothers a 40-minute break to express their milk during breastfeeding for their infants.)
Breastfeeding is the first line of defense and protection for babies.It lowers the risks against short- and long-term diseases, said Delia Serion, Dumaguete City nutrition action officer.
She cited the various benefits of breastfeeding to mothers, such as prevention of cervical cancer, Type-2 diabetes, and even obesity.
“Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is really important. After six months up to two years, breastfeeding should be continued and it should be accompanied with proper complementary feeding,” Serion added.
Leslie Baynosa, 16, from Sta. Catalina, said she sees the breastfeeding advocacy as helpful to her when she becomes a mother.
“If I will be a mom, I will see to it to breastfeed my baby to give the best nutrients. It would also help me recover and get closer to my little one,” Baynosa added.
Nutritionist Defino said she hopes that more accessible lactation stations will be set up in the workplaces for the privacy of the mothers and their babies. (JCT/PIA7 NegOr, with reports from Jonah Nicolas, NORSU intern)
