I encourage each and every Filipino family to grow malunggay trees in their backyard. Since malunggay trees are readily available in different parts of the Philippines, Filipino doctors and nurses should continuously promote the health and nutritional benefits of eating malunggay. Malunggay leaves are not only rich in vitamin A and C, calcium, potassium, and protein, but also have antibacterial properties which is commonly used for medicinal purposes.
Each year, millions of pregnant women give birth to their babies. Although the Philippine Department of Health (DoH) has been very firm in promoting the importance of breastfeeding for the health of the newborn babies, it is very rare that we can hear nurses promoting the advantages of eating malunggay during the patients' breastfeeding period. As a result, there are a lot of cases wherein breastfeeding mothers experience mastitis – also known as “the inflammation of the breast caused by the blocking of the milk ducts while mothers are lactating”.
The mere fact that there are only few healthcare professionals who are publicly promoting the nutritional benefits of malunggay leaves suggest the strong need to enhance the general knowledge and learning experience of our future healthcare professionals. By knowing the health benefits of incorporating malunggay in the diet of lactating mothers, health care professionals can play a very important role in ensuring that each mother and their newborn baby willl not only receive proper nutrition but also protect them from possible infection caused by bacteria such as streptococcus, legionella, and staphylococcus.
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