Should Breast-Feeding in Public Places, Such as Bu: Should Breast-Feeding in Public Places, Such as Bu...

Should Breast-Feeding in Public Places, Such as Bu: Should Breast-Feeding in Public Places, Such as Bu...: "Should Breast-Feeding in Public Places , Such as Buses, be Outlawed?' MANDAUE CITY, Cebu, Philippines – With the decline of breastfeeding ..."

Should Breast-Feeding in Public Places, Such as Buses, be Outlawed?

Should Breast-Feeding in Public Places, Such as Buses, be Outlawed?" MANDAUE CITY, Cebu, Philippines – With the decline of breastfeeding mothers in the country, the Region 7 office of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) in partnership with the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) signed a Memorandum of Agreement to push for the establishment of lactation station in the workplace. The signing of the MOA coincides with the launching of National Nutrition Month this July with the theme “Isulong and Breastfeeding-Tama, Sapat at Ekslusibo!” which was graced by NNC executive secretary Maria-Bernardita Flores together with the different nutrition officers in the region. Flores in her speech lauded MCCI for joining them in the said campaign because it is the first in the country “this is one of the biggest milestones in our campaign on the exclusive breastfeeding as the putting up of lactation area in the workplace will greatly benefit our working mothers.” She added that NNC has been forging alliances with the business sector to widen its promotion on health and nutrition especially to children below five years old. Study shows that the Philippines is among the 42 countries that accounts 90 percent of deaths among children five years old, where 82,000 died before reaching their fifth birthday. Of the said cases, 16,000 could have been prevented if only mother religiously practiced exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. NNC also noted a decline on breastfeeding practice among mothers where more than 50 percent stopped breastfeeding on the first two months after giving birth. Moreover, the MOA also compliments Republic Act 10028 or the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009” which mandates establishments or work places to set-up lactation stations and provide compensable time for breastfeeding and lactation periods for the employees. The lactation station should provide safe and healthful working conditions for women workers taking into account their maternal functions, thus, promoting the constitutional provision of providing facilities and opportunities to enhance their potential in the service of the nation. Eric Mendoza of MCCI on the other hand, disclosed that the establishment of lactation station in the workplace is a good business because studies have shown that establishments with lactation stations resulted in less absenteeism among workers, high employee productivity, greater company loyalty, high employee morale, improved ability to attract and retain valuable employees and having a family-friendly image of the establishment in the community. Meanwhile, this city’s Mayor Jonas Cortes also graced the event and expressed his commitment on the said program while preparing the lactation station of the city hall for the female employees.