CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Aug. 9 (PIA) - The Department of Health (DOH) - 10 has spearheaded the Breastfeeding Awareness Month celebration this August with the World Health Organization (WHO), and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to promote and support the breastfeeding of infants from 0-6 months old and the continuous complementary feeding of breast milk ,as they transition to a more solid diet especially in this time of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

With the theme, "Ibida ang pagpasususo tungo sa wais at malusog na mamamayan, BIDA standing for B - Bawal ang magpasuso kung walang mask at may simptomas, I - Isanitize ang kamot kung magpasuso, D - Distanysa ug isa ka metro sa uban ka tao kung magpasuso, and A - Aksyon sa sakto na impormasyon sa pagpasuso," DOH-10 aims to encourage and help breastfeeding mothers to adjust to the health safety protocols in mitigating the spread of the virus.

During th Talakayan sa PIA, media forum, Dr. Emma Imperio of DOH-10 explained the importance of breastfeeding amid COVID-19 pandemic.

"Sa karon, gipadayon nato ug gipahibalo ang mga mama with our theme this month para makabalo sila sa sakto na pagsuso especially karon na kamolo pa ta sa ato COVID-19 na pandemic," said DOH-10 Medical Officer-III Dr. Emma Imperio.

(Right now, we continue informing our mothers with our theme this month so they would know the proper way of breastfeeding especially that we are still in the COVID-19 pandemic.)

She further clarified that to date, there is still no known evidence of transmission of COVID-19 through breastfeeding and/or consumption of breast milk from a COVID-19 positive mother to the child.

Despite the limitations of their breastfeeding campaign due to some restrictions for mass gatherings, they opted to leverage social media for their campaign this year, as it is accessible to most people in the region. IEC materials are also distributed in the rural areas to be placed at strategic public places like hospitals, barangay halls and other government buildings. (VPSB/PIA10)