The Gender and Development Program hosted a one-day activity on Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) and Breastfeeding Orientation to partners Barangay Health Workers of Isabela City.

The main objective of this activity is to equip BHW in assisting post-partum mothers, especially those with pre-mature newborn. KMC has been an innovative program in caring for the low birth weight neonates by putting them inside a stretchable tube like blouse of the mother, following the natural principle of a Marsupial animal- the kangaroo.

By virtue of Republic Act No. 7600, known as “The Rooming –In and Breastfeeding Act of 1992”, as a government hospital, it is oblige to adopt rooming-in as a national policy to encourage, protect and support the practice of breastfeeding.

KMC is an extended skin to skin care, stabilize newborn’s condition, breastfeeding, and promotes early discharge from the hospital. It shall create an environment where basic physical, emotional and psychological needs of mothers and infants are fulfilled through the practice of rooming-in and breastfeeding.

Barangay Health Workers can act both as an educator and facilitator in implementing KMC even at their client’s home, they can as well monitor every home visitation. These efforts anchored to the aim of the global strategy in improving through optimal feeding, which includes the nutritional status, growth and development, health, and thus the survival of infants and young children.

It supports exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, with timely, adequate, safe and appropriate complementary feeding, while continuing breastfeeding for two years and beyond. It also supports maternal nutrition and social and community support.