Zambo hospital inaugurates milk bank

Health personnel shows the first batch of pasteurized 

breast milk. (Photo by R.G. A A. Go)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 10 (PNA) – Mayor Celso Lobregat , House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao and mayor-elect Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar on Monday joined guests and local health officials in the inauguration of this city’s Human Milk Bank at the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC).

Lobregat, in his message, congratulated the ZCMC on the opening of its newest facility which aims to promote breastfeeding, and in the long run, encourage nursing mothers to donate human milk which will be processed and dispensed by the milk bank to recipient infants.

“The national government through the Department of Health advocates for the giving of breastmilk to children below two years old,” Lobregat said.

“For years now, ZCMC has remained committed to this advocacy through the prohibition of bottled or formula milk in your OB-Gyne ward,” Lobregat added.
He further noted that the vigilance of the entire ward to ensure compliance to the policy is truly admirable.

“That is commitment,” he added.
The Human Milk Bank is a program spearheaded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the city government, through the City Health Office (CHO), and the ZCMC.

The UNICEF approved the grant for the establishment of the milk bank, which was facilitated by Salazar, who is this city’s first district congresswoman.
The facility is located at the 2nd floor of the Laboratory Building of the ZCMC.
It is one of the four milk banks in the country, and the first bank established in a city outside Metro Manila. (PNA)
PDS/TEOFILO P. GARCIA, JR./UTB