AUGUST is designated as the official ‘Breastfeeding Month’ where government and women empowerment groups would always try to drumbeat awareness on the importance of breastfeeding among mothers.

But no one does a wholesome job of promoting and taking breastfeeding as an advocacy than SM City Clark. On Monday, the mall hosted a large group talk on the importance of breastfeeding.

SM City Clark, together with Angeles City Health Office and workers and pregnant mommies of 33 barangays of Angeles City, celebrated the importance of breastfeeding at the mall’s event center with a series of activities to highlight the celebration.

Invited speaker was Dr. Hernand Tulud, president of Family Physicians, Angeles City Chapter. He shared to the audience the essence of breastfeeding, saying that breastfed children are more healthy and intelligent than those that were not sufficiently breastfed.

SM City Clark public relations Officer Venus Manalang said the SM Malls are serious in keeping up with government standards and provide breastfeeding stations in different SM Malls for mothers who are either employees or mall goers.

‘In fact, SM prides itself of being the only mall in the country with the most number of breastfeeding stations for mothers,’ Manalang said.

In 2005, Dr. Elvira L. Henares-Esguerra, president of Children for Breastfeeding (an organization that mobilizes children to support pregnant and breastfeeding mothers) approached SM Supermalls’ Vice President (now President) Annie Garcia and convinced her to put up a Breastfeeding Station at SM Megamall.

Dr. Elvira’s idea was sparked by a sad incident when Elizabeth Carino, one of the members of Children for Breastfeeding was asked by a security guard in a mall (not an SM Supermall) to go to the toilet so she can continue to breastfeed.

Incensed, she refused to budge from her seat, continued to breastfeed and asked the guard if he eats in the toilet.

A project of SM CARES, Children for Breastfeeding and Nurturers of the Earth, the first station was established in 2006 at SM Megamall and has now expanded to 38 more SM Supermalls nationwide serving more than 100,000 mother-child pairs.

The project earned many awards for SM and its partner organizations, including the prestigious Anvil Awards for SM Supermalls and the 2008 Outstanding Filipino Physician for Dr. Elvira who continues to spearhead many projects to promote, protect and support breastfeeding and indigenous foods for young child feeding.

The DOH said breast milk is the perfect food for newborn infants as it contains the specific nutrients required for growth and development.

In the Philippines, despite the known breastfeeding benefits, DOH data showed that only one of every six infants are exclusively breastfed for first six months of life and although about 85 percent of newborns undergo breastfeeding, only half of them continued to be breastfed exclusively.

Meanwhile, Manalang assured that the breastfeeding advocacy will always be a part of SM Clark’s commitment to its community.