Women's group backs House moves for 'informed choice'

MANILA, Philippines - In line with the recent discussions on the breastfeeding bill in the House of Representatives, the women’s group Women Involved in Nation-Building (WIN) has expressed its full support for the current congressional efforts dedicated to serve the interests of Filipino mothers and babies.

In a statement, WIN spokesperson Grace Migallos said WIN strongly wishes that utmost importance be particularly devoted to safeguard and promote women’s rights to proper knowledge and information that will help lead mothers to numerous options needed for making appropriate decisions for their babies and their families.

Migallos said, “WIN is a staunch advocate of breastfeeding. Every WIN member believes that breast milk is the platinum standard for infant nutrition and that exclusive breastfeeding of up to six months will ensure that our children will grow up physically, emotionally and mentally healthy.”

“But women and mothers also have the right to information to be able to protect and further their own health, as crucially linked to that of their babies. The more information that mothers can access, the better it is for themselves and for babies,” Migallos added.

Thus, WIN believes in empowering mothers to make educated decisions based on informed choice regarding nutritious, safe, and appropriate feeding methods and products for their children when breast milk cannot be provided or when breastfeeding is not feasible for various health and economic reasons.

On the particular legislation, WIN also supports donations of milk products during calamities and other emergency situations.

The provision on allowing milk donation during disasters and emergencies is part of the proposed House Bill 3537, or the proposed Act to Promote Comprehensive Program on Breastfeeding Practices in the Philippines, authored by Reps. Lani Mercado-Revilla and Lucy Torres-Gomez.

Migallos said, “Milk donations should be allowed but regulated by the Department of Health experts, local health authorities and officials. This particular provision will be an important component of the overall strategy to combat malnutrition, assist poverty alleviation, particularly in disaster-stricken areas.”

In taking part in disaster relief efforts in different parts of the country, WIN has witnessed the devastation and despair brought by disasters and calamities in evacuation areas wherein hundreds of thousands of families, including mothers and babies, suffered from moderate to extreme malnutrition and hunger.

During these situations wherein all kinds of food and health assistance were needed by mothers and infants, even if crucial external support was being offered by private groups and corporations, donations of milk formula and other infant food products nonetheless remained prohibited by the government.

Health officials have said that infant formula and other baby food products contribute to more sickness and deaths during disasters because these are mixed with contaminated water, thus worsening the conditions of babies consuming the products.

But WIN said that if the problem is the contamination of the milk and baby food products during preparation, then local government and health officials should ensure that strict safety measures are being observed during preparations.

Migallos said, “We should consider a balance between ensuring adequate nutrition in times of disasters and safeguarding against risks of infection from water-borne diseases associated with bottle feeding. Local government units should assign their municipal health and nutrition officers in the preparation of the milk products.”

She added: “The onus of responsibility should then lie with government authorities. We can propose additional provisions (including articulation of safety nets and sanctions for non-action on the part of government) in the distribution of milk products in times of emergency.”