Tacloban City (May 8) -- In pursuit of its commitment to promote breastfeeding as a vital component of the Hunger Mitigation Program of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 8 tapped four towns of the province of Leyte to join the nationwide simultaneous breastfeeding.

Director Letecia Corillo said that the activity was organized by the Children for Breastfeeding and Nurturers of the Earth with the support of UNICEF. The campaign seeks to revive breastfeeding, an economical yet healthy way to ensure child's growth and development.

Dubbed as Sabay Sabay Sumuso sa Nanay was conducted not only to achieve the first Guinness World Record in multiple sites but also to advocate breastfeeding as the best and safest food for babies. It is a drive to urge mothers to stop using infant milk formulas which do not guard children from various illnesses and infections such as asthma and diarrhea.

According to the World Health Organisation, children fed with infant formula are 25 times more likely to die of diarrhea than those who are breast-fed.

With the organizers' firm belief that a baby deserves his mother's milk, the event also stressed the health benefits of breast feeding for the mothers, protecting them from postpartum hemorrhage, anemia and even breast cancer.

Director Corillo added that the organizers also hope to institutionalize breastfeeding as an annual form of national thanksgiving for the gift of motherhood and breastfeeding.

In the Eastern Visayas Region, Director Corillo informed, the Department of Social Welfare and Development was able to enlist the participation of the municipalities of Baybay, Mahaplag, Tolosa and MacArthur with the support and cooperation of their respective municipal social welfare officers and the municipal health officers.

In the municipality of Baybay, Municipal Health Officer Margie Olong ensured the participation of forty one nursing mothers from the Rural Health Units I and II.

In Mahaplag, the municipality had a total of thirty nursing mothers who participated in the simultaneous breastfeeding activity.

Director Corillo said that as of press time, the two remaining municipalities have yet to submit their reports on the activity to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.