The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on the lives of many Filipinos. The Local Government Units (LGUs) are doing their best to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on health and nutrition outcomes.   An important COVID-19 response that LGUs are doing is the promotion, protection, and support of Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF).  Breastfeeding and proper complementary feeding can save lives of infants and young children especially during this time of pandemic.

The city government of Malabon has long been giving prime importance to the IYCF Program by enacting City Ordinance No. A11-2016 that prescribes the local policy and guidelines on IYCF, training and deployment of breastfeeding support groups (BFSGs) and Buntis-Chikiting Patrollers or BuchiPats, and providing funds to IYCF-related activities among others.

To intensify the promotion, protection and support of IYCF during the “new normal”, Malabon City conducted a webinar on IYCF on August 17-21, 2020.  The 5-day webinar, spearheaded by the City Nutrition Committee and facilitated by the nutrition secretariat, was attended by 33 Buntis-Chikiting Patrollers (BuchiPats) and 10 Barangay Health Workers.  The training emphasized IYCF during emergencies and its importance.  Demonstration of breastfeeding using baby dolls and breast models was done to help the participants understand the proper attachment and breastfeeding positions.

After completing the online IYCF course, the participants officially became members of the BFSGs in the barangays. As members of the BFSGs, they will help in tracking pregnant and lactating women, counsel mothers on breastfeeding and proper complementary feeding, and actively promote IYCF as a malnutrition prevention strategy. They are also expected to be vigilant in monitoring EO 51 violations.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Malabon City was able to successfully train 43 new BFSGs who will help the city government reach out to more mothers and save more infants and young children from malnutrition through the IYCF Program. As the saying goes, when there’s a will, there’s a way.

*Article contributed by Malabon City Nutrition Program Coordinator Fidel Baltazar P. dela Cruz