TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol –– More than 300 mothers from Bohol gathered at the BQ Mall on Saturday, August 3, to simultaneously breastfeed their babies for one minute as part of the Global Big Latch On.
The event, spearheaded by the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital, was held within the celebration of the World Breast Feeding Month.
Breastfeeding advocate Karla Tirol Magno, proprietor of The Brow Clinic and Beauty Lounge, shared her breastfeeding journey.
Aside from its health benefits, breastfeeding, she said, strengthens the maternal bond between moms and babies.
Participant Hannah Balite shared that each latch is an intimate moment.
“It keeps my heart falling in love with motherhood and the wonders a mother’s body can do,” she said.
According to a UNICEF global database, 34% of Filipino children were fed with only breast milk before the age of six months.
Speakers during the event said many of the mothers are having difficulty with breastfeed and don’t really appreciate the benefits of breastfeeding because the media promotes formula milk.
But at the end of formula milk commercials, they said, it said that “Breastmilk is still best for babies.”
The World Health Assembly calls for an increase in the rate of global exclusive breastfeeding to at least 50% by 2025. /lzb