ARCSEA

NEWS RELEASE

August 26, 2010

BREAST FEEDING ADVOCATES SAY: 3 MONTHS IS GOOD BUT INSUFFICIENT!

Reference: Madella T. Santiago, Executive Director

The Association for the Rights of Children in South East Asia (ARCSEA) believes that the court’s decision to grant “hospital arrest” to a nursing detainee is to the best interest of a newborn child but is still insufficient.

August which has been set by Republic Act 10028 or the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009,”  as Breastfeeding Awareness Month of each year, should be a celebration for breast feeding mothers but not for Carina “Judilyn” Oliveros who is living in fear and anxiousness before the court has reached its decision.

Judilyn, one of the 43 illegally detained Health Workers gave birth to his son last July. Less than a month, after giving birth at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), she has been moved to Camp Bagong Diwa with her newborn baby. Yesterday, Presiding Judge Gina F. Cenit-Escoto of the Morong Regional Trial Court Branch 78 finally granted Judilyn’s plea to breastfeed her month-old son ‘Baby Boy Oliveros’ upon hospital arrest at the PGH for a period of three months.

According to Madella Santiago, ARCSEA Executive Director, “The lower court’s decision is a positive development on Judilyn and her son’s case. But on the other hand, the three month period for breast feeding is still not enough. It is highly recommended that breastfeeding should at least be a minimum of six months. Furthermore, the nursing mother and the infant should be in a stress-free environment while providing postnatal care.”

“ARCSEA  believes that breastfeeding is very essential for the growth and development of an infant. There can be no substitute for the nutritional benefits and the bond between mother and child which can be developed during breastfeeding. This is the reason why we fear what will happen with Judilyn and her son after three months,” Santiago continued.

Santiago also said, “Like Judilyn, Mercy Castro who is also one of the detained 43 Health Workers is now seven months pregnant and is due to give birth on October. We are also worried whether Mercy and her baby will go through what Judilyn and her baby are experiencing.”

“Although the court’s decision is positive, we are still hoping that newborn infants like Baby Boy Oliveros and Mercy Castro’s child could attain their right to proper nutrition and be not separated from their mothers. Child Rights advocates should unite and push for the government to humanely act on issues like this and free the illegally detained health workers now!’ Santiago concluded. ###