The Cordillera Media Educators on Nutrition (CAR-MeNu) and the National Nutrition Council are planning to institutionalize their conduct of lactation seminars in the barangays as part of the Nutri-Pasada, a grassroots based nutrition education campaign.
After the success of the first lactation seminar at the City Health Services Office in August, CAR-MeNu president and Business Mirror correspondent Marilou Guieb said the group and the NCC have decided to make the lactation seminar a regular activity of the group.
The second seminar done for the first time in the barangays last Dec. 11 was well-attended. Not only were the mothers reminded about the benefits of breastfeeding to them and their children, they were also taught the proper ways to breastfeed.
CAR-MeNu and the NNC has partnered with the Breastfeeding Care Center of the North to facilitate the seminars.
The seminar was organized by Barangay Nutrition Scholars of Lower and Upper Dagsian, Hillside, Garbriela Silang, Scout Barrio, and Hillside.
Guieb said it is apt that institutionalization of the seminar be done in Baguio for the beginnings of the formulation of the Milk Code and other laws related to breastfeeding traces its roots in the city.
She said the institutionalization is also the NNC and CAR-MeNu’s way of championing the efforts of Dr. Natividad Clavano, the doctor who advocated for exclusive breastfeeding.
Rooming in and lactation and relactation protocols was started by Clavano of the Baguio General Hospital’s Under 5 clinic.
Salient provisions of the Milk Code are prohibition of milk companies from giving sample products to pediatricians and establishment of lactation rooms in government offices and private offices, among others. – CAR-MENU release
