Monday, August 15, 2005
Breastfeeding can prevent 20% of RP child deaths
By Jenny Molbog-Mendoza
THE Department of Health (DOH) has drafted a roadmap that will ensure the eradication of malnutrition incidence in the country.
The National Plan of Action on Infant and Young Child Feeding serves as a blueprint of initiatives, which will be implemented starting this year until 2010.
Based on the data obtained from DOH, the Philippines is one of the 42 countries that account for 90 percent of global deaths among children who are under five years old.
In 2004 alone, 82,000 Filipino children under five years of age died. The DOH said that about 16,000 (or close to 20 percent) of these deaths could have been prevented with exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, appropriate complementary feeding at six months, and continued breastfeeding to at least two years.
Exclusive breastfeeding, as defined by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, means the infant only receives breast milk.
To achieve a healthy and bright future of Filipino children, the DOH said, there is a need for a comprehensive systematic approach. A technical working group (TWG) will put together the following strategies: develop policies and standards; improve systems for effective infant and young child feeding (IYCF); mobilize stakeholders and partners for IYCF; and involve families and communities to promote and adopt IYCF.
"Ang breastfeeding ay isang kultura na dapat nating yakapin para ang ating mga anak ay malulusog at matatalino," Duque said.
Duque is urging both the national and local leaders to partake the undertakings of the agency in order to accomplish the commitment of eliminating malnutrition.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (August 15, 2005 issue)
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