CEBU CITY, Cebu, August 8 (PIA) -- In line with the celebration of this year’s National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH7) urged mothers to exclusively breastfeed their children for the first six months from birth.

Guided by its theme "Sama-samang itaguyod tamang kaalaman at kalinga sa pagpapasuso", DOH has been actively promoting the benefits of breastfeeding.

They encourage the public and private sectors to promote and support the practice of exclusive breastfeeding of infants for the first six months of life, and continue with complementary feeding onwards.

Exclusive breastfeeding is considered the healthiest, most effective, and environmentally sustainable action for mothers to take for their children.

Breastfeeding gives babies and infants advantages in terms of lifelong health and development in all socioeconomic aspects and enhances survival.

It also improves the overall health of mothers.

"Pag ka tawo sa baby kinahanglan iinitiate dayun ang breastfeeding, kay kini maka save sa kinabuhi sa bata (After the baby is born, breastfeeding should be done immediately as this can save the baby’s life). Usa sad, it will prevent diarrhea, it helps the jaw and teeth development of the child and reduces the risk of obesity and diabetes," said DOH7 Medical Officer IV Dr. Jeanette Pauline Cortes during the Kapihan sa PIA interview on August 3.

The breast milk is also clean and always ready at a right temperature.

The process of breastfeeding also provides macro and micro nutrients for the development of the baby, and it also has mental and psychological effects that bring the mother and child closer together.

According to DOH7, the initiation of breastfeeding or immediate breastfeeding after birth in Central Visayas is at 74% for the year 2020 and increased to 93% in the year 2021, while the rate of exclusive breastfeeding for the year 2020 stands at 63% and decreased to 62% in the year 2021.

By strengthening its efforts in promoting the practice of breastfeeding, DOH7 is aiming to improve the rate of exclusive breastfeeding being practiced by mothers in the region, wherein their target is to have at least 50%.

"We are also encouraging breastfeeding even beyond six months and up to two years. Once you have a healthy family because you are breastfeeding, then these healthy families collectively will create a healthy community," Cortes said. (RGC/PIA7)