BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS OF MANOLO FORTICH ATTENDS AMUMOM YEAR 2 ENABLING BREASTFEEDING CELEBRATION

World Breastfeeding Week 2023

In its continuous endeavor in promoting breastfeeding awareness to the mothers of Manolo Fortich, Municipal Nutrition Action Office (MNAO), together with Modern Nanays of Mindanao conducts Amumom Year 2 Enabling Breastfeeding at the Municipal Gymnasium, Barangay Tankulan, Manolo Fortich on August 30, 2023.

In support to the World Breastfeeding Week this year with the theme, “Isulong ang ligtas at malusog na pagpapasuso para sa manggagawang Pilipina!” which puts an emphasis on a safe and healthy breastfeeding process for mothers who are part of the workforce.

“Ma emphasize man gyud karon nga dili labag ang pagpasuso sa atong mga anak bisan kita nagtrabaho. Dili labag ang paghatag og nutrisyon sa atong mga anak bisan kita naa sa opisina, sa private, sa public, o bisag asa sa atong tagsa tagsa ka panimalay,” says Sangguniang Bayan Member as well as Committee Chairperson on Health, Sanitation, and Nutrition Coun. Joy L. Cordovez during her opening remarks.

In connection with the theme, the program majorly focused on lectures that discuss breastfeeding such as its significance and sustaining the process. The following topics that were discussed are Session 1: The significance of breastfeeding for working moms and Session 2: Sustaining breastfeeding within and beyond the hospital borders.

However, the main highlight of the event was the simultaneous breastfeeding activity of the mothers along with their babies.

“International ni nga celebration na tanan gapasuso na mama, magdungan. So karon, kita mga mama, apil ko, magdungan ta og pasuso sa atong mga anak in 1 minute. Then, e count dayun nato para ma record diri sa Manolo Fortich kung pila ta kabuok mama nagpasuso during the Amumom Celebration,” says Rhiza Mae Macalos of Modern Nanays of Mindanao, advocate for Mother and Infant & Young Child Care, and a mother, as she leads the major activity of the program.

In total, there were 110 lactating mothers and pregnant women, 83 of them are breastfeeding mothers, along with 84 infants coming from the 22 barangays of Manolo Fortich who were able to participate on topics such as preparing a mother for pregnancy, labor, delivery, and breastfeeding.

On the lectures, Nadine May L. Peñaflor, Session 1 speaker, breastfeeding advocate, and a mother of two girls, speaks of the value of breast milk as a form of encouragement for the mothers to be consistent in breastfeeding, “Ang breast milk is like liquid gold and pinaka importante na nutrition nga atong mahatag sa ilaha.”

Dr. Jessamin C. Asreno-Ang, Session 2 Speaker and Pediatrician at Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) also elaborates the nutritional value of breastmilk, “Ang breastmilk kumpleto gyud siya. It contains nutrients, growth factors, and hormones vital to brain development. So, medyo unparalleled gyud ang breast milk compared sa formula (milk).”

“Dili ra sa baby naay healthy impact ang pag breast milk, apil pud sa mga mothers. It can prevent ovarian cancer, diabetes, and osteoporosis,” adds Dr. Asreno-Ang. Furthermore, she continues to also express the importance of sustaining breastfeeding within and beyond the hospital borders, “Preparing a mother for pregnancy, labor, delivery, and breastfeeding, dili ra siya trabaho sa OB Gyne or sa Pedia. It’s actually a teamwork ang successful breastfeeding.”

Aside from the lectures, there was also a Cloth Diaper and Baby Wearing Demonstration, as well as games and raffles that was led by the Modern Nanays of Mindanao. Various sponsors have made great contributions towards the prizes of the games and raffles, as well as the totality of the event that was led by MNAO.

Sheryl Tocmohan, 28 years old, from Bgry. Maluko is one of the raffle winners who is also a participating mother along with her 1 year old baby boy of Amumom Year 2 Enabling Breastfeeding. She expressed her positive experience during the event, “Pasalamat gyud ko abot sa langit, abot sa yuta kay na express nako akong self as a mama. Dako gyud ko og pasalamat diri sa munisipyo kay daghan ko og natun-an labi na sa unsaon pag breastfeeding apil napud unsaon pag handle sa among mga bata.”

The program concluded with a thought in mind that the gathering is the beginning of a harmonious community and support group for the new mothers of Manolo Fortich where they can share, listen, talk, or ask questions regarding their motherhood experiences especially in breastfeeding. This way, they can educate and comfort one another. Indeed, a reminder of the Modern Nanays of Mindanao’s golden rule, “Make no mom feel alone.”