Proclamation No. 14, s. 1992

M;: 11/ t)<'r' AL.C;:ANANG MANILA BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILWPINES PROCLAMATION NO. 14 DECLARING AUGUST 1 -7, 1992 AND EVERY YEAR THEREAflER AS MOTHER AND BABY FRIENDLY HOSPITAL WEEK WHEREAS, breastmilk, the best food for infants and nature's first" immunization, is the first preventive measure that can ever be given to a human being at birth; WHEREAS, rooming-in, or putting the baby together with the mother right after birth, creates an atmosphere that is conducive to the early initiation of breastfeeding and handling; WHEREAS, the common practice in the majority of our hospitals today is to separate the newbome from their mothers and kept in nurseries where they are fed prelacteals and starter formulae instead of colostrum and human milk; WHEREAS, adopting a pro-breastfeeding, mother and baby-friendly policy, nationally and individually, by hospitals does not take away the freedom of choice but gives mothers the right to exercise their freedom -in the light of scientific advice rather than commercial promotion; WHEREAS, breastfeeding and rooming-in can help hospitals and other health institutions save by cutting down on expenditures such as the maintenance of formula rooms and nurseries, purchase of feeding bottle sets and milk formulae, electricity, water, and others; . WHEREAS, despite the advantages of breastfeeding, the trends in the practice of breastfeeding in the country have been found to be declining; WHEREAS, 32 governments, 10 United Nations and other agencies, convened at a Policymakers meeting held on August 1, 1990 developed and adopted the Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding; WHEREAS, the first day of August 1992 has been declared World Breastfeeding Day by World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action; WHEREAS, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative was launched worldwide by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund with the cooperation of other international non- govemmen t organiza tions; --~ :-:.~~--: ,- ,., --- --~ ~-,.','~~- '" ~ ~ ~HEREAS, there is an increasing number of hospitals in the Philippines being recognized as Baby-Friendly Hospitals which practice rooming-in, encourage breastfeeding, and ban breastmilk substitutes in their premises; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare August 1 -7, 1992, and every first week of August in every year thereafter as Mother and Baby Friendly Hospital Week, order national recognition for MOTHER AND BABY-FRIENDLY HOSPITALS. The Department of Health, all government departments, agencies, and instrumentalities are hereby enjoined to mobilize their networks to fully implement and strictly enforce Executive Order No. 51 or "The National Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, Breastmilk Supplements And Related Products", and Republic Act No. 7600 or the Rooming-In and Breastfeeding Act of 1992. Furthermore, all non-governmental, professional, and civic organizations and all responsible Filipinos are encouraged to work together to promote this endeavor. By the President: ~ PETER Acting 1111111111111111111111111111111111111 PMS lIBRARY BCODEOO6914 2