01/09/2026
SSND and GAD-YC Hold Breastfeeding Seminar, Stress Importance of First 1,000 Days
The Society of Student Nutritionist-Dietitians (SSND) together with the Gender and Development Youth Council (GAD-YC) organized the Breastfeeding Seminar 2026 last August 25, 2026 at the GS Function Room, EVSU Main Campus, to promote the value of breastfeeding and proper infant nutrition. The event opened with a Zumba dance led by SSND officers, followed by welcome remarks from Dean Eduardo V. Cabuyao, Ed.D of the School of Technology, setting an energetic and meaningful tone for the seminar's discussions on maternal and child health.
Anchored on the theme, "Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works," the seminar featured Nutritionist-Dietitian II of DOH-8, Mr. Raymark C. Norio, Registered Nutritionist-Dietitian (RND), as resource speaker. He discussed the significance of proper nutrition during the First 1,000 Days of life, widely regarded as the golden window of opportunity for a child's growth and development.
Norio explained that the First 1,000 Days span roughly 270 days of pregnancy, 180 days of exclusive breastfeeding, and 550 days of continued breastfeeding alongside complementary feeding, extending up to two years of age and beyond. He stressed that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months provides infants with all the nutrients and hydration they need, after which the timely introduction of complementary foods, without discontinuing breastfeeding, becomes essential to sustaining a child's growth and protecting them from malnutrition.
The seminar also touched on the burden of stunting and other forms of malnutrition in the Philippines, noting that prolonged nutritional deficiencies during the first 1,000 days can lead to adverse and often irreversible effects on a child's physical and cognitive development.
Mr. Norio emphasized that the absence of exclusive breastfeeding increases a child's vulnerability to illnesses such as diarrhea, along with other communicable and noncommunicable diseases, and underscored that any additional nutrient supplementation should only be given when needed and properly prescribed by healthcare workers.
Despite ongoing efforts to promote breastfeeding, the Philippines continues to fall short of its recommended breastfeeding rates. Statistical data presented during the seminar, covering the period from 2011 to 2023, revealed persistent gaps in achieving national breastfeeding targets.
The seminar likewise highlighted the importance of collective action in addressing malnutrition, citing initiatives such as the Multisectoral Nutrition Project implemented through local government units. Such programs demonstrate how communities can work together to improve nutrition outcomes and support the health of mothers and children.
The event drew a wide range of participants, including pregnant women, lactating mothers, and both teaching and non-teaching employees of the university, as well as lactating mothers from Barangay 43-B. Their participation reflected the seminar's reach beyond the campus and its relevance to the wider community.
The program also included an open forum where participants were given the opportunity to ask questions, share insights, and gain further clarification on topics related to breastfeeding and infant nutrition. Ultimately, the Breastfeeding Seminar 2026 reaffirmed that proper nutrition, beginning in pregnancy and continuing through infancy, plays a vital role in giving children a healthier start in life, and that strengthening breastfeeding practices remains a shared responsibility of families, institutions, and communities alike.
✍️ P. M. Davocol
🖼️ A. Ocaña
📷 G. Enato, C. G. Santos
