TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Philippines – To support the National Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Strategy, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) in Region 7 is urging local government units (LGUs) and private companies to allocate an area where mothers can comfortably breastfeed their children in public places.

The NNC7 made the appeal after some LGUs in this province were able to build the said facility found in the town of Tubigon and in a city mall.

One of the low-cost family-friendly facilities a local chief executive can build is a breastfeeding station in the market or terminals same with private companies which has a number of women in the workforce, said the NNC7.

Putting up of said facility will also help promote government’s drive for exclusive breastfeeding for a newborn’s first six months.

In Tubigon, the lactation station is located in the town’s local market inaugurated last July. A minimum of two breastfeeding mothers use the room daily with a barangay health worker and nutrition scholar taking turn in assisting the mothers.

Meanwhile, in terms of the workplace, the BQ Mall in this city has noticed less absenteeism among its female workers who can now do breast pumping during their breaks. The breastfeeding room in the mall has a refrigerator to store the breast milk of the employees, while costumers and tenants can also use the facility located on the second floor.