The city council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance mandating the City Health Services Office to establish milk banks in every district health center in the city.
Under the proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Betty Lourdes F. Tabanda, the storage facility for breast milk shall be located in an appropriate room or space in the district health centers to be equipped with a refrigerator or freezer, cooler packs, food grade containers, breast pumps, milk storage bags, and such other materials needed to express and store breast milk.
The ordinance requires the CHSO to assign one personnel in every district health center to undergo training on the proper management of breast milk in the storage facility.
The CHSO will also be tasked to formulate the guidelines in the implementation of the proposal once approved.
The ordinance provides that P1 million, which shall come from savings or any available funds of the city will be appropriated for the purpose.
Succeeding funds shall be included in the CHSO’s annual budget.
Republic Act 7600 or the Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Act of 1992; RA 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009; Proclamation 1113, s. 2006 declaring Aug. 1-7 of every year as World Breastfeeding Week; and Executive Order 51, s. 1986 or the National Code of Marketing of Breastfeeding Substitutes, Breast Milk Supplements, and other Related Products are laws that revitalized public and world attention to the impact of breastfeeding on the development and survival of infants and children.
The Department of Health also issued Administrative Order 2005-0014 that provided the policies on infant and young child feeding that highlighted the importance of breastfeeding practices, initiating breastfeeding within one hour after birth up to two years and beyond. – PIO release
