Taguig to open breast milk bank

MANILA, Philippines - The local government of Taguig will soon open a breast milk bank to help address malnutrition among infants.

Mayor Lani Cayetano said around 200 breastfeeding mothers have volunteered to donate their milk to the barangay nutritionist scholars or workers of the local nutrition council.

“We have set aside a space for this project and we are targeting to open the breast milk bank in December,” Cayetano said.

“We have to donate mothers’ milk to infants in orphanage,” she added.

Taguig City had been awarded the “2013 Green Banner” for its effective nutrition programs.

Health Undersecretary Teo-doro Herbosa urged nutritionists from local government units to turn down donations of formula milk to encourage mothers to breastfeed their babies.

Teodoro said mothers’ milk is the safest for infants.

The Department of Health will start today its supplemental immunization of children five years old and younger for measles, rubella and polio.