SM joins 1st fun run for breastfeeding advocacy
Partnering with international and national organizations; Food and Agriculture Organization, International Labor Organization, UNICEF, World Food Programme and World Health Organization, Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund-2030, Department of Health’s National Nutrition Council, SM Supermalls through its Breastfeeding Committee recently took part in the first running campaign that focused on breastfeeding at SM Mall of Asia.
Dubbed as “Run to Save Lives! Run for Breastfeeding!” the 5K run and 2K walk event aimed not only to promote breastfeeding but also the proper infant and young child feeding practice.
Thousands of avid runners, athletes, mothers, and breastfeeding advocates gathered before the break of dawn to support the event. During the campaign, SM Supermalls was commended for pioneering breastfeeding stations in the Philippines.
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| Joining the advocacy campaign for breastfeeding are (from left to right) UNICEF Programme Director Dr. Nicholas Alipui, SM Senior Marketing Manager Chito Bauzon, Brains Beauty and Breastfeeding Director Nuriza Abeja, World Food Programme Country Director Stephen Anderson and SM Breastfeeding Programme Director Bernadette Velasco. |
“SM Supermalls has always been a strong advocate of breastfeeding. We believe in the profound experience of motherhood. In this regard, it is our goal to bring back the breastfeeding culture in the Philippines by creating an environment that supports, protects and empowers breastfeeding mothers” said SM Breastfeeding Programme Director Ms. Bernadette Velasco.
Likewise, Ms. Velasco added that infants should be exclusively breastfed from birth to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years and beyond. Evidences show that breastfeeding provides long-term benefits such as better protection against chronic disease, gastrointestinal and respiratory infections, allergies, diarrhea and neonatal sepsis.
Currently, SM has 42 Breastfeeding stations nationwide. In SM City Marilao, Breastfeeding station is located at the 2nd floor near Broadway Gems and at the ground floor near World of Fun in SM City Baliwag.
