CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 is establishing a milk bank in Cebu to support babies and children up to two years old that have been abandoned by their parents.
Walk-in donors are encouraged to visit and donate breast milk to the Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC), a 24-hour facility at the DSWD regional office supervised by nutritionist Melinda Canares.
Canares advised donors to store breast milk in special freezer bags designed for fresh milk or any clean, sterilized, hard plastic or glass containers. The milk may also be stored in baby food jars.
When pasteurized, the milk can last up to six months. When stored in a regular refrigerator, the milk can last only up to eight days. Meanwhile, milk stored in room temperature can last only up to four hours.
Established in 1983, RSCC houses children that have been orphaned, abandoned, neglected, abused, surrendered or voluntarily committed including those children whose families are in crisis situations.
Canares said donations will also be shared with other DSWD facilities that need breast milk to feed to abandoned babies.
Breastmilk is widely acknowledged as the most complete form of nutrition for infants and has wide range of benefits for the infant’s health, growth, immunity and development.
In a statement, Canares underscored the importance of breastfeeding, as “a mothers’ milk is designed to nourish the body of an infant.”
She said the production and delivery of breast milk also aids the mother’s own health; reduces risks of breast, ovarian and cervical cancers; reduces anemia; and promotes weight loss.
Meanwhile, children that have been breastfed are more resistant to diseases and infections early in life compared to formula-fed babies and are less likely to contract a number of diseases, allergies, asthma, eczema, gastroenteritis, childhood and juvenile diabetes and obesity, ear infections, respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, bronchitis, kidney infection, heart disease and cancer.
In normal cases, breastfeeding is also found ideal because it develops a stronger emotional bond between the mother and child. –JMO (FREEMAN)