Zonta Club of Tuguegarao concludes Women's Month with breastfeeding advocacy

To cap off its Women’s Month celebration, the Zonta Club of Tuguegarao, Philippines, reaffirmed its commitment to maternal and child health by participating in the Milk Letting Activity and Health Education program organized by the Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) Lactation Management Committee on March 30 at Robinsons Tuguegarao.

The event, themed “Pagbibigay ng Katatagan sa mga Kababaihan upang Pangangailangan ng Sanggol ay Matugunan” (Empowering Women to Meet the Needs of Infants), emphasized the importance of breastfeeding support and women’s empowerment.

Since 2017, the club has sustained its advocacy for breastfeeding, consistently providing resources and encouragement to nursing mothers in partnership with CVMC. This year’s initiative was bolstered by the outstanding contributions of its members and community partners.

Leading the breastmilk donations was Club Immediate Past President and Vice Mayor Olive Pascual, who facilitated an impressive 10,410 mL donation from generous mother donors, collected through the Rural Health Unit (RHU) of Lal-lo, Cagayan. Another notable contributor was Jasmin Achanzar, a new club member, founder of YENA, and passionate breastfeeding advocate, who coordinated a 4,760 mL breastmilk donation. A mother to 7-month-old Cian and 5-year-old Marcus, Achanzar embodies dedication — balancing motherhood, medical studies and advocacy to support fellow mothers.

The club's sustained efforts in breastfeeding advocacy have been supported by past donors and active members, including Josan Evangelista, Chast Tungcul and Karen Pascual-Tungcul, who have played vital roles in the club’s ongoing initiatives. With Achanzar’s involvement, the club continues to strengthen its mission to close gaps in breastfeeding support, ensuring that mothers receive the guidance and resources they need to nourish their children.

Under the leadership of President Liza Mora-Arroyo, the club successfully concluded its Women’s Month activities with this impactful event, reinforcing the belief that when women uplift each other, future generations thrive. The club extended its gratitude to all donors, partners and organizers, underscoring the power of community-driven action in empowering women and promoting child nutrition — all in pursuit of building a better world for women and girls.