MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) has promised to shoulder the hospital expenses of mothers who are breastfeeding their newborn babies.
The DOH said it will pay the expenses of mothers depending on the venue of their delivery: P6,500 for hospitals and P1,750 for lying-in clinics.
The department said this is part of its "New-Born Package," a program created to prevent neonatal deaths in the country.
The DOH said it is keen on promoting breastfeeding to protect the health of newborn babies.
The program is being endorsed by celebrities such as Audrey Zubiri and Daphne Osena-Paez.
The DOH said breast milk is still the healthiest food for newborns in their first 6 months.
Breastfeeeding can also help mothers save to as much as P2,000 per month, the department said
