8990 HDC donates kits to 200 moms, babies

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2016/08/23/8990-hdc-donates-kits-200-moms-babies-493313
• Wednesday, August 24, 2016

(Sun.Star Cebu)

SINCE giving birth to a child is a joyous occasion for every mother, 8990 Housing Development Corp. (HDC), through LATCH, a breastfeeding support group, and the Department of Health, gave 200 mothers at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) OB Ward more reasons to celebrate.

The 8990 HDC, in support of the Breastfeeding Month held every August, donated 200 malong-wrapped mom-and-baby gift packages worth P200,000 to the mother-beneficiaries last Aug. 13.

Present during the turnover of the mom-and-baby kits were 8990 HDC assistant general manager for operations Ariel Jose Mercado, general manager-Visayas cluster Rhena Caceres and executive assistant Grace Erana, LATCH Cebu officers, VSMMC officers and the 200 mother-beneficiaries.

“The sponsorship is part of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Cebu because 8990 cares,” said Caceres.

On its Facebook (FB) page, LATCH Breastfeeding Support and Gugma sa Gatas ni Nanay Project thanked 8990 for its sponsorship, saying, “We are so grateful for the support of 8990 Housing Development Corporation...Each malong pack has P1,000 worth of baby essentials. Most of the moms who gave birth at VSMMC come from marginalized sector, it’s really an eye-opening experience for any one who will give time to visit and do breastfeeding counseling for these mothers.”

The group’s FB page also said that the VSMMC high-risk unit has more mothers in dire condition as it is more crowded with no air-conditioning with several mothers and their babies sharing a single hospital bed. Mothers also struggle to breastfeed; some are battling from post-partum depression.

The hospital, however, could not turn the mothers away when they give birth there.

The donation and the visit of 8990 officers at the OB Ward have indeed made a mark in the lives of every mother-beneficiary, said 8990 in a press statement.

“The company cares for the community it serves,” said Januario Jesus “JJ” Atencio, 8990 president and chief executive officer.

Helping mothers with newborn babies through LATCH Cebu was just among the many CSR projects that 8990 has undertaken over the years.