(Photo: I Love Tagiug Facebook page)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) — In celebration of World Human Milk Donation Day, the City of Taguig held a Grand Breastmilk Letting Activity at the TCU Auditorium on Tuesday, May 14.
Around 300 breast milk donors participated in the activity, which aimed to boost the supply of the city’s Human Milk Bank, launched in 2015 by Mayor Lani Cayetano. The Taguig human milk bank is the third facility of its kind operated by a local government in the Philippines.
The milk bank collects breast milk from mothers who have more than their babies need, screens it, pasteurizes it, tests it, and dispenses it to premature and fragile infants in need.
“Ito po ay pagbibigay-pugay sa inyo na aming mga buhay na bayani dahil sa inyong pakikiisa sa programang ito ngayong araw,” said Councilor Marisse Balina-Eron, Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Health.
(This is a tribute to you, our living heroes, for your solidarity with this program today.)
“You are giving a lifeline kasi ‘yung ibang mommies ay nauubusan po ng breast milk, kaya kayo ang aming tunag na bayani,” Balina-Eron added.
(You are giving a lifeline because other mommies are running out of breast milk, so you are our real heroes.)
The Top 20 Breast Milk Donors, who donated milk between May 2023 and last month, were given Plaques of Appreciation and a token bag with Taguig delicacies. The 50 most generous milk donors of the day also received a multifunctional baby wrap.
All breast milk donors received free snacks, three kilos of iron-fortified rice, and health screenings provided by the Taguig Social Hygiene Clinic & Drop-in Center prior to donation.
Jeanica Alvarez, a mother of three from Barangay North Daang hari, has been donating since 2011 and is thankful for Taguig City’s programs that promote unity among mothers and support child health.
First-time donor Merlita Oso Asang also commended the approachable and caring Barangay Health Workers at her local health center. (PIA-NCR)
