Palo, Leyte – The Department of Health Eastern Visayas – Center for Health Development successfully conducted the 2nd Regional Breastfeeding Forum on August 20, 2019 at Leyte Park Hotel, Tacloban City. It was in observance of the 2019 Breastfeeding Awareness Month with the theme “Lakas ng Magulang, Sigla ng Pagpapasuso – Kalusugan, Nutrisyon at Kinabukasan ng kabataan.” Over seventy-five (75) health offices, district hospitals, private hospitals, local government units, government offices, and non-government entities from various provinces, cities, and municipalities attended the activity. One of the main topics discussed was the human milk bank and its significance.

The Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) is the first government hospital in the Eastern Visayas to establish a Human Milk Bank. It was inaugurated on February 28, 2019 but was already operating since the year 2017.

“One of the important reasons to have this milk bank is for children who suffer calamities/natural disasters to receive not just ordinary milk but breast milk,” Dr. Gemma Ramos remarked. As the Human Milk Bank – Point Person in EVRMC, Dr. Ramos emphasized the numerous benefits the milk bank gives especially to mothers who are incapable of providing breast milk to their newly born babies.

“Starting the month of March until December of 2017, 44 liters of breast milk was collected and pasteurized from 389 donors. A total of 38 liters dispensed with 20 liters given to Biliran Province (Biliran Provincial Hospital) post landslide after the Typhoon Urduja. On January to December 2018, 132 liters was collected and pasteurized from 1,251 donors.” Dr. Ramos added that collecting milk from their patients in the hospital is difficult for them especially if the milk collected is not enough to undergo pasteurization.

The EVRMC – Human Milk Bank has a ‘First in, First out Policy’. Once the pasteurized milk has been released to the receiver, the milk must only be consumed within 24 hours and be stored at -70c or refrigerator temperature.The human milk is stored in a BPA-free cup and is worth P220.00 per 100ml.

Dr. Fedilita Dico, DOH – Head of Local Health Technical Assistance and Program Management Section (LHTAPMS), encouraged everyone present to continue collect frozen breast milk and donate it to EVRMC for pasteurization.

In order to avail the human milk bank, one has to submit the following requirements: (1) Doctor’s prescription; (2) Signed commitment/kasunduan form; and (3) Ice bucket with an ice on it.

Other topics presented were the Status of Local Implementation of Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Program and the National Policies on IYCF which focuses on EO 51 (Milk Code), RA 10028 (Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009), and AO # 2007-0026 (Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital Initiatives). #NDRico