DOH encourages mothers to breastfeed amid China milk contamination
09/22/2008 | 09:08 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Amid concerns over melamine-contaminated milk products from China, the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday encouraged mothers to "go back" to breastfeeding.
In a radio interview, DOH Undersecretary Alexander Padilla said that while his department promotes breastfeeding, aggressive ads by milk firms had lured mothers to turn to formulas and powdered milk.
"Ito rin siguro magtulak sa ina natin na ipagpatuloy ang breastfeeding. Now is the best opportunity to say that (Perhaps the scare over contaminated milk may push some mothers back to breastfeeding. Now is the best opportunity to say that)," Padilla said in an interview on dwIZ radio.
The official said the health department's breastfeeding drive had been no match for giant milk companies in terms of advertising and promotional campaigns.
Padilla admitted even the Philippines' world record bid on the most mothers breastfeeding had done little to improve the country's breastfeeding rates.
"Very low ang breastfeeding rates ngayon. Malaking improvement, galing 13% breastfeeding ngayon 16% or 20%. Yan makakatulong sa nutrition at kalusugan ng bata (We have very low breastfeeding rates. The breastfeeding record bid improved out rates somewhat from 13 percent to 16 to 20 percent. But breastfeeding will boost the nutrition and health of children)" he said.
Padilla also said they are trying to cope with the disadvantage compared with milk companies by promoting breastfeeding in hospitals.
"Kung ihahambing ang budget sa ad at advertisement ng milk companies wala kaming laban doon. At least what we lack in ads, we try to promote sa hospitals and health workers (When we talk of ads and advertisement campaigns, we are no match for milk companies. At least
what we lack in ads, we promote in hospitals and among health workers)," he said. - GMANews.TV
In a radio interview, DOH Undersecretary Alexander Padilla said that while his department promotes breastfeeding, aggressive ads by milk firms had lured mothers to turn to formulas and powdered milk.
"Ito rin siguro magtulak sa ina natin na ipagpatuloy ang breastfeeding. Now is the best opportunity to say that (Perhaps the scare over contaminated milk may push some mothers back to breastfeeding. Now is the best opportunity to say that)," Padilla said in an interview on dwIZ radio.
The official said the health department's breastfeeding drive had been no match for giant milk companies in terms of advertising and promotional campaigns.
Padilla admitted even the Philippines' world record bid on the most mothers breastfeeding had done little to improve the country's breastfeeding rates.
"Very low ang breastfeeding rates ngayon. Malaking improvement, galing 13% breastfeeding ngayon 16% or 20%. Yan makakatulong sa nutrition at kalusugan ng bata (We have very low breastfeeding rates. The breastfeeding record bid improved out rates somewhat from 13 percent to 16 to 20 percent. But breastfeeding will boost the nutrition and health of children)" he said.
Padilla also said they are trying to cope with the disadvantage compared with milk companies by promoting breastfeeding in hospitals.
"Kung ihahambing ang budget sa ad at advertisement ng milk companies wala kaming laban doon. At least what we lack in ads, we try to promote sa hospitals and health workers (When we talk of ads and advertisement campaigns, we are no match for milk companies. At least
what we lack in ads, we promote in hospitals and among health workers)," he said. - GMANews.TV
