DOH having problems forming milk code task force

DAVAO CITY — The Department of Health Region 11 (DOH 11) has called for help from various agencies to set up a more permanent composition of the task force that will revitalize the group tasked to monitor unlawful marketing of breastmilk substitutes.

“We started in the year 2016, but essentially we are having difficulties in organizing the Milk Code task force,” Ma. Clarose Mascardo, program head of the Infant and Young Children Feeding of the DOH in Davao region said.

Mascardo said that every time they invite different government and nongovernment offices, the agencies send different representatives each time.

“Iba-iba ang pinapadala nila. Every time, every year, I need to orient (them),” she told Manila Bulletin in an interview during the consultative meeting with the Milk Code Task Force held at the Grand Men Seng Hotel Thursday.

“Can we just have a permanent person, who can sit on the group? This time I will be requesting na kung sino ang nandito ngayon yun na talaga (Those who are here will be permanent representatives),” she said.

Mascardo added that they will not be orienting representatives of agencies next year.

“Hopefully next year, we will be discussing what are those violations that were committed and how does the Milk Code task force take action on those violations,” she said.

So far, the DOH has received only two complaints of Milk Code violations in Davao region for last year.

Mascardo said there has been rampant violation of the code that remained unreported.

“The health care system is the target of milk companies. 1986 pa ang batas hanggang ngayon bina-violate. Ano na lang ang nangyari sa mga bata sa bansa?” she added.

Citing the implementing rules and regulations of the Milk Code, Mascardo said the task force is responsible for monitoring and investigation violations of the code. The task force is headed by the Department of Health.

The Milk Code was signed in 1986 to regulate marketing of formula milk.