WV to join bid for Guinness World Record on breastfeeding
Western Visayas is going to join the country's bid for the Guinness World Record on simultaneous breastfeeding in multiple sites on May 2 at 10:00 in the morning.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) OIC- Regional Dir. Teresita S. Rosales, in charge of coordinating the event, said "Sabay-sabay Sumuso sa Nanay! Year 2" is going to institutionalize synchronized breastfeeding as an annual national prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of motherhood and promote public awareness on benefits of breastfeeding.
The event is in coordination with the Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) 6.
Rosales said this is the second year that the Philippines will try to make it to the Guinness Book of Record on simultaneous breastfeeding on multiple sites.
On May 4, 2006, the Philippines first broke the world record for simultaneous breastfeeding in a single site in San Andres Sports Complex in Manila with 3,541 breastfeeding mothers participating.
DOH-CHD 6 Regional Coordinator for Breastfeeding Dr. Cristela Lacurom said they are really campaigning hard for exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of the infants because of the health benefits they can get from it.
Breast milk, according to Dr. Lacurom, is nutritionally complete and balanced, safe and clean.
Breast milk is the natural way to nourish and develop close ties with children.
Breastfed children,he said, are less prone to death-threatening illnesses. Breastfeeding reduces of chances of pregnancy, he added.
The two identified venues in Western Visayas for the simultaneous breastfeeding are Jaro Covered Gym in Jaro and New Lucena Covered Gym in New Lucena, Iloilo.
There will also be simultaneous breastfeeding to be held in Badiangan and Sta. Barbara, Iloilo; Dao, Ivisan and Roxas City in Capiz; Kalibo in Aklan; Bacolod City in Negros Occidental; and in San Jose de Buenavista, Sibalom and Sebaste in Antique.
It was also learned from the DSWD that Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead the countdown of this national breastfeeding activity.
(PNA)