How breastfeeding saved this mother and child after Typhoon Odette
When Gilla Capucanan got pregnant, she made a vow. “I was separated from my own mother as an infant. I promised my child’s life would be different. I would be there for her no matter what,” remarks Gilla. The first-time mother faced her first test when Typhoon Odette ravaged their town of San Jose in Dinagat Islands in December 2021. “It felt…, Complementary feeding, Gilla was one of 27 mothers who attended the Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) seminar conducted by UNICEF and Samaritan’s Purse, as part of the humanitarian response for Typhoon Odette. From the time a child is born, they should undergo Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF)—that is, breastfeeding only without giving water, medicine, or nutritional…, Continuing challenges, Even after the storm, Gilla acknowledges that there will continue to be challenges in her breastfeeding journey. “There’s still some stigma associated with breastfeeding in public, but I am not ashamed. I’m a mother now. My only focus is my child.” In the Philippines, workplaces, businesses and public places are required to have clean and safe…