MARAWI
CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug. 5 (PIA) --- The chief of the Integrated
Provincial Health Office underscored the importance of breastfeeding as
the sole source of nutrients for babies up to six months.
Dr.
Alinader Minalang said breastfeeding alone provides complete nutrition
and health protection for babies for the first six months of life.
Breastmilk
is rich in nutrients such as vitamins, proteins, minerals and
antibodies that help protect babies from infections, diarrhea and common
illnesses, he said.
According to Minalang, mothers should
exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months of life to
achieve optimal growth and development. After six months, babies can be
given complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding up to two
years.
Minalang also reiterated that even working mothers can continue to breastfeed their babies.
He said the government has laid down policies to enable nursing mothers to combine family obligations with work duties.
Offices
are obliged to provide lactation rooms for employees who are nursing
mothers and allow them appropriate periods to express milk, he said.
(APB/PIA-10)
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