The following message of thanks appeared in an article in the Manila Bulletin on 13 March. I quoted other parts of the article in my blog yesterday. See:
http://boycottnestle.blogspot.com/2007/03/uk-health-claims-action-example-to.html
This is Health Secretary, Francisco Duque III, interviewed about the Supreme Court continuing to block implementation of government baby food marketing requirements (RIRR) while hearing the case brought by the baby food industry. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 16,000 babies die in the Philippines every year due to inappropriate feeing.
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"Each day of delay in the implementation of the revised Implementing Rules translates to a day where mothers get more half truths or even whole lies in the guise of informed choice. We believe that more teeth to the code, through the RIRR, will save lives," Duque said.
"We respect the decision of the Supreme Court and will await the copy of the resolution. Yet, we will keep on doing our job and continue this arduouos fight in the interest of better health for Filipinos, especially for the poor. To this end, we would like to thank all those who have been supportive and behind us in this fight to save precious lives of Filipino mothers and babies," he said.
To date, there have been hundreds of signatures received from several individuals, celebrities and organizations worldwide applauding the country's fight against the misleading marketing tactics of milk companies.
Among the supporters are actress and Oscar winner Emma Thompson, WHO, UNICEF, IBFAN Europe, Baby Milk Action of UK, INFACT Canada, IBFAN Italy, Italian Nestlé' Boycott Network, Nordic Work Group for International Breastfeeding Issues, National Childbirth Trust of UK, Breastfeeding Network of UK, Australian Lactation Consultants Association, Infant Feeding Association of New Zealand, Peoples Health Movement of USA, Philippine Solidarity Group Netherlands, and others.
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I add my thanks once again. For further information on the importance of international support see:
http://boycottnestle.blogspot.com/2006/11/your-messages-of-support-are-front.html
To download a scan of the article, click here.
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1 comment:
I'm so thankful I've found your blog. That is so sad that 16,000 Filipino babies die each year for lack of breastfeeding.
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