by DOH MANILA - Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell Ubial emphasized the significance of exclusive breastfeeding from birth up to the...
by DOH
MANILA - Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell Ubial emphasized the significance of exclusive breastfeeding from birth up to the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary feeding 6 months and beyond, as an evidence-based lifesaving intervention known to reduce newborn and under-five child deaths. Breastfeeding also assures that infants receive the most appropriate nutrition to help them reach optimum growth and development in the first 1,000 days of life.
The Department of Health (DOH) recently celebrated the annual Breastfeeding and Family Planning Summit underscoring the theme Breastfeeding and Family Planning: Keys to Sustainable Development. It aims to highlight the its significance in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in poverty, nutrition, good health and well-being through its impact on infant, child, and woman’s health.
DOH revealed that only 24.7% of infants reaching 6 months are being exclusively breastfed (National Nutrition Survey 2015) which contributes to infant deaths worldwide. The 2012 World Health Assembly Resolution aims to increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months to at least 50% by 2025. Despite of the low rates, DOH has succeeded in initiating breastfeeding during the 1st hour after birth with an accomplishment of 67% (2014 FHSIS Final Report). In addition, the country also achieved a 70% rate on implementing Unang Yakap or the Essential Newborn Protocol Care to ensure the survival of newborns through time-bound interventions within the first hour of their lives, including breastfeeding initiation.
The health chief added that aside from nutrition and health benefits to babies, exclusive breastfeeding is also a modern, natural method for birth spacing. Women who plan their future are able to provide proper nutrition, education, and health to themselves and to their families.
As one of the priorities of the Philippine Health Agenda, the Family Planning Program of DOH is consolidating its strategies on reproductive health services to make it more accessible to women and couples. Women and couples have the opportunity to plan for their future and provide a healthy and prosperous environment for themselves and their families.
While there has been a steady increase on the use of contraceptives among married women from 49% in 2003 to 55% in 2013 according to 2013 National Demographic Health Survey, 38% of these women use modern methods. 18% among married women are also classified with having unmet need for family planning, with 7% wanting to delay their pregnancy and 11% not wanting more children. Like for breastfeeding, focus on Family Planning as an important development and public health matter at hand that should be regarded to advance reproductive health care services for women, with special focus on providing information on the options and services that are available to them.
The DOH spearheads on mobilizing communities and stakeholders to achieve secure, equitable health care that helps families out of poverty. DOH remains committed to strengthen service delivery that will protect, promote, and support the Milk Code, the Expanded Promotion of Breastfeeding Act, and the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law and national policies on maternal, newborn, infant, and child health and nutrition.
“Under this administration we continue to advocate the rights of women, children and families to ensure that their needs to life and survival will be given the corresponding financial support, governance, and leadership. Together, we will work in attaining our vision of All for Health towards Health for All,” Secretary Ubial concluded. (DOH)
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