SECTION 6. Responsibility. – The Department of Health shall take measures to promote, protect, support and monitor appropriate infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices. Appropriate IYCF practices include the following:
Proper Latching-on immediately after birth and initiation of breastfeeding within the first thirty (30) minutes thereafter
Exclusive breastfeeding from 0 – 6 months
Appropriate complementary feeding from 6 months onwards
Continuous breastfeeding up to two (2) years of age or beyond
The goals will be achieved by providing women access to the support that they require- in the family, the community, and the workplace. DOH shall provide objective, updated and consistent information and training of health workers and the general public on infant and young child nutrition in partnership with the local governments and civil societies without any conflict of interest.
SECTION 7. Hazards and Complete Information on Breastmilk
Substitutes and Replacements.- It is the responsibility of the State to inform the general public on the hazards of the production, preparation and use of breastmilk substitutes and other products covered by the Code. When medically indicated and only when necessary, the use of breastmilk substitutes is proper if based on complete and updated information.
SECTION 8. Information and Education.- The government shall ensure that objective and consistent information is provided on infant and young child feeding, for use by families and those involved in the field of infant nutrition. This responsibility shall cover the planning, provision, design and dissemination of information, and the control thereof.
a) In this regard, The Department of Health in collaboration with the national agencies, local government units, including non – governmental organizations and members of civil society, shall :
a.1. Plan, provide, design, disseminate and regulate information related to infant and young child nutrition and the implementation of the Milk Code;
a.2. Formulate and implement a communication plan, which among others will indicate key messages on infant and young child nutrition;
a.3. Create a Technical Working Group to serve as a clearing house for all information and training materials on infant and young child nutrition and the Milk Code; and
a.4. Assist Local Government Units (LGU’s) and other partners in developing strategies
b) Informational and educational materials intended to reach pregnant women and mothers of infants, including women of reproductive age, which materials shall include clear information on all of the ensuing; (1) the benefits and superiority of breastfeeding; (2) maternal nutrition, and the preparation for and maintenance of breastfeeding; (3) the negative effect on breastfeeding of introducing partial bottle-feeding; (4) the difficulty of reversing the decision not to breastfeed; and (5) where needed, the proper use of infant formula, whether manufactured industrially or home-prepared. When such materials contain information about the use of infant formula, they shall include the social and financial implications of its use; the health hazards of inappropriate foods or feeding methods; and in particular, the health hazards of unnecessary or improper use of infant formula and other related products including information that powdered infant formula may contain pathogenic microorganisms and must be prepared and used appropriately.
c) The promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding and the P.roper implementation of the Milk Code shall be an integral part of all information, education, and communication plans and training activities of the Department of Health (DoH), as well as that of the Department of Education (DEPED), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Local Government Units (LGU’s), and other such concerned agencies/individuals.