CALAPAN CITY, OrientaL Mindoro (PIA) — The Department of Health (DOH) MIMAROPA has recognized the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Calapan City as the first-ever “Mother-Baby-Friendly Workplace” in the entire MIMAROPA region.
This after said LGU undergone a thorough evaluation and met the required standards set by the DOH.
One of the key criteria in designating an LGU as a Mother-Baby-Friendly Workplace is the presence of a lactation station, where employees and clients, who are breastfeeding or nursing their babies, can make use of the facility.
According to Calapan City Mother-Baby Friendly coordinator Hazel Masongsong, aside from having a lactation station, it is also necessary to provide a cooling storage for expressed breast milk. Also, the posting of the guidelines for proper usage of the lactation station is required.
“Kailangan po natin ma-meet ang minimum standards ng isang lactation station…kinakailangan po na mayroong storage at nandoon po ang ating guidelines kung paano gamitin ang lactation station. Doon po kailangan na mayroong cooling storage or refrigerator para po doon iimbak ng mga lactating moms ang kanilang mga expressed breastmilk,” Masongsong said.
[We need to meet the minimum standards for a lactation station, which should include storage and the guidelines for its use must be clearly displayed. The cooling storage or refrigerator is essential for mothers to store their expressed breast milk.]
Regarding the next steps for making Calapan City a Mother-Baby-Friendly City, City Nutrition Action Officer Glenda Raquepo shared that the local government plans to install lactation stations in every facility within the city, both public and private establishments. This initiative will cover 70 percent of the barangays in Calapan to meet the DOH standards.
“Katulad ng market place, dapat mayroon din silang lactation station, yung mga malls, although may mga existing na rin tayo sa mga malls. Ang mga bangko dito sa Calapan ay minomonitor din namin…ine-encourage din namin na magkaroon ng lactation stations. Sa ngayon, gusto namin na ma-certify sila,” Raquepo said.(JJGS&ALG/PIA MIMAROPA-Oriental Mindoro)
