Health Experts Appalled By Campaign Against Breastfeeding

The Philippine Department of Health (DOH), World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) all expressed dismay over a campaign launched by private pharmaceutical companies against breastfeeding.

"We are appalled by the persistent distortion of data by the Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP)", DOH Undersecretary Alexander Padilla said. "They propagate misleading information that seriously undermines breastfeeding in the country."

The group cited press releases and paid advertisements that appeared in newspapers during the commemoration of World Breastfeeding Week. The worldwide event is the largest annual celebration of breastfeeding by advocates and is held during the first week of August.

"The timing and nature of the materials are clearly unethical and is the very reason why the new implementing rules and regulations of Executive Order 51, or the Milk Code, is all the more imperative," Padilla added.

The revised guidelines of the Milk Code impose an absolute ban on advertising, promotions, or sponsorships of breast milk substitutes.

The Supreme Court is currently studying the documents submitted by the DOH and PHAP following a much publicized oral argument last month. The materials of PHAP cited studies and data by the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), DOH, WHO, and UNICEF that painted encouraging breastfeeding rates in the country.

From: AllHeadLineNews.com