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CAMPAIGNNEWSTRAILU P D A T E S O N T H E C H N C A M P A I G N I N T H E P H I L I P P I N E S

Over 20,000 signatures of support from communities and institu-tional partners with which World Vision works amplified the call

to protect breastfeeding by keeping the Milk Code intact during the Global Week of Action that ran May 1-8. Executive Director Josaias dela Cruz explains that the Global Week of Action has engaged World Vision’s various national, local and community partners for World Vision’s health and nutrition advocacy on breastfeeding and support to the Milk Code of the Philippines. “We wanted them to participate, to show concrete support to...the topmost strategy of preventing malnutrition, considering that malnutrition continues to be the biggest underlying cause of child deaths,” says dela Cruz. World Vision through its Child Health Now advocacy campaign project has been intentional in complementing government programmes and policies that aim to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. “Compared to similar laws in other countries, the Milk Code in the Philippines with its revised implementing rules is one of the best adaptations of the International Code on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes,” states Dr. Yvonette Duque, World Vision Manager for Child Well-being Programming.

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Public inks support to Milk Code during Global Week of Action

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Aiming for a more engaging GWA

The Global Week of Action (GWA) is a synchronized glo-bal social mobilization event of the Child Health Now campaign, participated by 77 countries where World Vision works in. GWA aimed to amplify the voice of children and women through popular support and ultimately to remind world leaders and national leaders to work fur-ther on their commitments to reduce preventable child deaths.

Asia Pacific countries initially reported that 3.5 million people were mobilized to take action during the GWA. During the week, people did not only raise hands to show support for all children to survive five, but also delved deeper into solving the issues that contribute to the prevention of deaths in under-five children. For Child Health Now offices, participation was contextualised to the campaign agenda for child health in that country.

Initially submitted signatures supporting the Milk Code from across the communities where World Vision works in the country were handed-over to offices of congressmen Acosta-Alba of Bukidnon’s 1st district; Ibarra Gutierrez III of the Akbayan partylist and vice-chair to the committee on the revision of laws; Teodorico Haresco Jr of Aklan’s lone district and chair of the house committee on Milennium Development Goals; and Benhur Salimbangon of Cebu’s 4th district and member of the house committee on Health.

Photo by staff from the office of Congressman Salimbangon

Photo by Jake Fadallan

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Global Week of Action participation in the Phil-ippines focused on the call to congressmen not to amend the Milk Code, the law that regulates the marketing of breastmilk substitutes. There are five amendment bills pending in both houses of congress that may pose threats to the Milk Code. The petition further explains that the Milk Code does not need amendments but rather, effective implemen-tation to realize the full strength of the existing law. “So we really believe that mother’s milk is the best...however, there are challenges in the enforcement of the Milk Code...we realize we need political will for the Milk Code to realize its full strength,” explains dela Cruz. “Milk Code compliance...support and implementa-tion is a key component to support, promote, and protect not just breastfeeding but the whole range of infant and young child feeding,” underscores Dr. Anthony Calibo of the Department of Health. In his discussion of infant and young child feeding during the GWA culminating event, Calibo mentioned about actual threats to the Milk Code during the recent Haiyan emergency response. Calibo recalled a top cabinet member directly involved in the emergency response who publicly appealed for milk donations. Milk donation is one of the prohibitions in the implementing rules of the Milk Code. World Vision is also part of the Philippine Coa-lition of Advocates for Nutrition Security, a group of 12 international and national non-government organizations that aim to help government improve the nutritiona status of Filipinos, especially children. Through the PHILCAN, the agenda supporting the Milk Code aims to engage not only national lawmakers but the Department of Health to realize the full strength of the Milk Code through stronger enforcement.

Public inks support... (continued from page 1)

MANILA, Philippines – Have you ever heard of the Milk Code? Yes, there is a Philippine law on milk. Implemented in 1986, the Milk Code or Execu-tive Order 51 ensures the protection of breastfeeding. In the Philippines, it institutionalized the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes which is a World Health Organization (WHO) resolution passed in 1981. Breastfeeding plays an important role in reducing infant mortality, according to Dr Anthony Calibo, head of the Philippines Newborn Care Program Family Health Office of the Department of Health (DOH). Calibo emphasized that most infant deaths occur in health facilities where infants were not properly breast-fed. Undernutrition remains to be the underlying cause of preventable child deaths in the Philippines. As of 2011, a survey conducted by FNRI shows that 20.2% of children below 5 years are underweight, while 33.6% are stunted. Poor breastfeeding practices, wherein infants are not exclusively breastfed for birth to 6 months, often lead to the malnourishment of children.

Violating the code

However, since its implementation, the Milk Code has faced strong opposition from the milk industry and countless of challenges on legislative and local levels. In the past two years, two bills have been passed that sig-nificantly weaken the regulations of the Milk Code – House Bill 2917 by Representative Josephine Veronique Lacson-Noel and Senate Bill 671 by Senator Loren Legarda. As a response, 5 new bills – presenting improved and comprehensive versions of EO 51 – were filed in both Houses during the 16th Congress. These include House Bill 2994 by Rep-resentative Philip Pichay and Senate Bill 1303 by Senator Jinggoy Estrada. The latter is considered a “good” bill but sets prohibitions only for advertising and marketing products intended for infants 0-24 months, and contains inconsistencies within the bill. According to World Vision, a staunch advocate of breast-feeding, the Philippine government needs to improve the enforce-ment of the Milk Code instead of repealing its existing provisions.

Milk industry

WHO identified weak or poor monitoring systems as the key problem in promoting the Milk Code. In the Philippines, the lack of funding makes it difficult to report violations of the Code. Despite having only two reported violations since 2006, hidden violations continue to challenge the popularization of the Milk Code. “The milk industry stands as the main opposition to the Milk Code given its strong reliance on consumer recall and aware-ness to increase its sales,” Calibo argued. False promises and claims to the use of formula milk – often used in advertising and promotion – can greatly influence mothers. Calibo explained that health professionals often fall prey to the dirty tactics of milk companies. They receive incentives such as travel, food, and non-monetary items in exchange for the promo-tion of breast milk substitutes. These violations often go unreported. “Few exceptional milk companies do adhere to the Milk Code, but the common rule is to not abide by it, or pretend that the Milk Code does not exist,” Calibo said.

Who’s Violating the Milk Code?BY Vanessa Cabacungan Posted on 05/10/2014 4:50 PM | Updated 05/10/2014 8:40 PMRead more: http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/hunger/57725-violations-milk-code

Advocates like Calibo stressed the need to promote breast feeding especially during disasters, wherein donations of formula milk are rampant. Such donations run contrary to the “No Milk Donation” provision of the Milk Code.

Collective action

“Milk Code monitoring is not just the responsibility of the Department of Health (DOH), but the responsibility of the public,” Calibo emphasized. “If a lot of infants have been put to the breast we would not have wasted lives. A breastfed child is an investment of the country,” he added. The DOH urges the public to contribute to the efforts of promoting the protection of breast feeding. Collective efforts, through partnerships with local gov-ernment units (LGUs) and public vigilance, are the most effective means to protect the Milk Code against violations. The public is encouraged to report violations to Milk Code Philippines or write directly to the Food and Drug Administration. Ordinary citizens can examine advertisements that under-mine breast feeding or give false claims. Moreover, health professionals actively discouraging breast feeding – hence violating the code – can also be reported by including their name, institution, time and place where the violation was made. – Rappler.com

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MANILA, Philippines—An international child health advocacy group has urged members of the House of Representatives to oppose proposals to water down the country’s Milk Code—which advances breastfeeding over the use of milk formula—adding that breastfeeding is proven to be effective in preventing deaths of children under five years old. At a forum on Wednesday in Quezon City, the World Vision Development Foundation Inc maintained that malnutrition has remained the biggest underlying cause of child deaths, which can be prevented through the promotion of breast milk over infant formulas. During Wednesday’s forum, the culmination of the group’s global week of action for its “Child Health Now” campaign, World Vision submitted a petition with some 7,500 signatures calling on senators and members of the lower house of Congress to defend the Milk Code or Executive Order 51 (EO 51). The Milk Code is a law that ensures safe and adequate nutrition for infants through the promotion of breastfeeding and the regulation of promotion and distribution of artificial milk formulas and other similar products. “We call on you to be steadfast in saying no to amendment attempts to the Milk Code as these will undermine breastfeeding practice… The Milk Code does not need amendments, instead, there should be a consolidated, stronger will to enforce it. We reiterate our call on you, our legislators at the Senate and the House of Representatives, to do your due diligence to oppose any effort to amend the Milk Code,” the petition states. It further said, “As duty bearers and stewards of the State, you owe it to your people, especially the helpless under five children, to protect and promote their nurturance from which may depend their very survival.” Child health advocates said breastfeeding could prevent the death of one in five children under five years old in developing countries. World Vision submitted copies of the petition to Representatives Maria Lourdes Acosta-Alba, of Bukidnon’s 1st district; Ibarra Gutierrez III of the Akbayan partylist, vice-chair to the committee on the revision of laws; and Teodorico Haresco Jr of Aklan’s lone district and chair of the house committee on Milennium Development Goals.

World Vision urges Congress not to water down pro-breastfeeding Milk CodeBy Jeannette I. AndradePhilippine Daily Inquirer, 1:30 am | Thursday, May 8th, 2014Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/103764/world-vision-urges-congress-not-to-water-down-pro-breastfeeding-milk-code

Yvonette Duque, World Vision manager for the child well-being program, said in a statement that the local Milk Code has turned out to be among the best adaptations of the International Code on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes. “Any attempt to amend EO 51 poses risk to the already existing Milk Code and so we propose for its full implementation rather than amendment so we can experience the full strength of this law that will redound to better child health,” she said. For his part, World Vision executive director Josaias dela Cruz said that the topmost preventive measure against malnutrition is “optimal breastfeeding.” Dela Cruz added, “We really believe that mother’s milk is still best. This is what God intended it to be.” He pointed out, “Malnutrition remains the biggest underlying cause of child deaths.” Dela Cruz said that both the World Health Organization and the Department of Health recommended optimal breastfeeding to prevent child malnutrition. Optimal breastfeeding requires infants from birth to two years to be breastfed. “Rather than amendment, we call for stronger enforcement of the Milk Code with its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations and we need strong political will to realize the full strength of the Milk Code,” he concluded. Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Calibo, the Department of Health’s Family Health Office, “Any attempt to water down or weaken the Milk Code in its natural state might really hamper our progress.” Calibo said that deaths of children under five years old were usually caused by illnesses such as: pneumonia, diarrhea, and other health problems, that arise from malnutrition.

(With reports from Andrea Ocampo, trainee)

CHN Campaign Newstrail is publishedbi-annually by the Child Health Now advocacy campaign in the Philippines. This special issue is published as an

immediate update on the Global Week of Action to inform WV partners, specially those who participated, of how they contributed to the advocacy so that children may survive 5.

World Vision Development Foundation, Inc.389 Quezon Ave cor. West 6th St., West Triangle, Quezon City