The long journey towards zero malnutrition in the municipality of Alfonso Lista requires diligent labor on the part of the LGU and the Saluad Salun-at Council meaning “protection of health”. With the status of the nutrition program, there are still many works to be done and it will take time to realize this vision. However, the people working behind this program are strongly committed and inspired to implement the programs and sustain good nutritional practices until such time that all children, and throughout the generations of Listanians, will live healthier and more productive lives.

The local government prioritized addressing malnutrition by increasing its budget for nutrition and health programs by 34.8% from 2016 to 2017. This investment by the local government catalyzed the implementation of existing nutrition-specific and nutrition sensitive programs such as supplementary feeding to 87 wasted and severely wasted school children and 1,080 children enrolled in Child Development Centers; Malnutrition Reduction Program where 41 households with malnourished children were visited and counseled by a task force organized for its purpose; Insentibo para sa Kalusugan Mo where a sack of rice and P500 worth of groceries were given annually to families to improve nutritional status of selected malnourished children; Bitamina Para ti Salun-at where wasted and severely wasted school children and underweight and severely underweight preschool children were given 2 bottles of multi-vitamins per month for six months; and Watwat a Binnigat where schools do stretching and other exercises especially for the identified 6 overweight and 14 obese school children.

OTHER STRATEGIES AND LOCAL INITIATIVES

Karingud Program : financial assistance of P104,000.00 is given to 24 poor families with malnourished children during the dry season / no- farming period to ensure provision of food on the table.

Kamote Program : Conceptualized by BNS Kiling in 2016 - barangay employees channeled their bonuses to the needy - (Senior Citizens, Solo parents, PWDs and poor families) by purchasing/distributing goods.

Kumadrona sa Nayon: Deployment of 14 Midwives in the barangay

Operation Ngiti: 1,080 Day Care Children were examined and given free tooth paste & tooth brush, some were given dental treatment; 349 pregnant women were given free tooth paste & tooth brush; 105 Senior Citizens examined & treated; 48 PWD examined & treated.

Pasasalamat sa Serbisyong Tapat: Currently there are 3 BNSs who were qualified

Search for Best BNC Implementer: The Search for Best BNC Implementer has boosted the services for nutrition. This year’s best is Barangay Little Tadian.

Assigning of Barangay Sanitation Inspector: There is an assigned BSI in each barangay who monitors and implements sanitation programs.

Naimbag a Sursuro Para ti Agtutubo: Reproductive health and leadership trainings were provided to 2,210 High School students and OSYs.

Community Livelihood Enhancement and Development Program (CLEDP): Four (4) individuals and one (1) association with 143 members availed livelihood loans; and 149 (women, solo parents, OSY, ALS, inmates and 4Ps) attended livelihood trainings.

Capability building of beneficiaries through Livelihood Programs were conducted jointly in 2017 by the CLEDP, MSWD, Office of the Municipal Agriculturist and other line agencies for employment and income generating projects. The schools, leaders and constituents of the 20 barangays are altogether enjoined in the IEC of the nutrition programs and in the adoption of good nutritional practices and healthy lifestyle.

Alfonso Lista required diligence, tremendous effort and commitment of the local government and the Saluad Salun-at Council. Having achieved substantial improvements in the nutrition situation, this municipality truly deserves to be among the country’s Nutrition Champions. As Nutrition Honor Awardee, surely, Alfonso Lista’s vision of a healthy, well-nourished, and progressive community is well within its reach.