World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7, 2007
Cayetano brings breastfeeding advocacy to cyberspace

Marking the start of World Breastfeeding Week today, Senator Pia S. Cayetano will lead a series of activities aimed at drumming up support for pro-breastfeeding legislation in the Senate and through cyberspace.

The internet has proven to be an effective means of "keeping the public abreast" on the benefits of mother's milk while countering aggressive media advertising for infant formula, said Cayetano.

The lady senator is pushing for the passage of her bill, Senate Bill 761, which seeks to revive the culture of breastfeeding in the country which has declined to alarmingly low levels in recent years.

Also known as the "Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act," SB 761 mandates the establishment of breastfeeding stations in public places and private and government offices, where nursing mothers can feed their baby or express their milk.

The bill will also require employers to allow paid "milk breaks" for their nursing female employees to encourage them to continue breastfeeding even after returning to work upon giving birth.

"In studies conducted by the Department of Health and the World Health Organization, 'returning to work' was the top reason why Filipino mothers are forced to stop breastfeeding, and so this bill aims to fill that gap," she explained.

Cayetano is also working on a separate bill which seeks to strengthen the advertisement regulations under Executive Order No. 51, also known as the National Milk Code.

"The bill aims to curb the influence of the aggressive media campaign of infant formula manufacturers. This has also discouraged mothers from breastfeeding their babies from birth up to two years."

The Milk Code is currently the subject of a landmark case at the Supreme Court between health officials and breastfeeding advocates, and multinational milk companies.

For the entire month of August, Cayetano has also lined up breastfeeding seminars in Pateros, Quezon City, Batangas, Cavite, and Cebu.

She will also launch her new blog, www.bestforbabies.wordpress.com* where mothers can share personal experiences and information and form support networks through cyberspace.

The senator is also set to hold consultations with barangay health workers to discuss problems related to the delivery of quality health services, including information and education campaign on breastfeeding, proper nutrition, and maternal and child health.

The dialogue kicks off in in Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila, where she will be joined by former senator and now Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. #

Note: This site will soon be renamed www.proudlybreastfeedingpinay.com.