The COVID-19 pandemic continues to make life difficult to many Filipinos. Many have lost their jobs and more families struggle even more against hunger and malnutrition.
Aware of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nutrition, the Pasig City Nutrition Committee through the City Nutrition Office is doing its best to prevent the possible worsening of the nutritional status of mothers and their children. They responded by continuously delivering nutrition services especially to pregnant and lactating women and children less than 2 years of age or those belonging to the first 1000 days of the child.
Last December 2020, as instructed by Pasig City Nutrition Committee Chair Mayor Vico Sotto, the Pasig City Nutrition Office provided food packs to 1,000 nutritionally-at-risk pregnant and lactating mothers. Packed inside the “katsa” bag were fortified food items: six (6) kilos of iron-fortified rice, one (1) kg of iodized salt, two (2) liters of cooking oil fortified with Vitamin A, 12 packs of fortified pasta, and 24 sachets of Lipid-based Nutrition Supplement in Small Quantity or LNS-SQ especially designed to meet the daily micronutrient requirements of pregnant and lactating women.
Pregnant mothers also received manual breast pump and malunggay capsules to prepare them for breastfeeding. They were also given nutrition lectures with film showing and flyers and brochures on nutrition before receiving their food packs. The distribution of food packs and nutrition education sessions were done by the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) assisted by Pasig Health Aides (PHAs) under the supervision of the nutritionists-dietitians. In addition, pregnant and lactating mothers also receive iron-folic acid (IFA) tablets during their pre- and post-natal visits at the health centers. All these interventions are part of the city’s First 1000 Days (F1K) Program.
The City Nutrition Committee under the leadership of Mayor Sotto is committed to mitigate hunger and malnutrition especially during this pandemic by continuously providing nutrition services to families particularly those with pregnant and lactating mothers, infants, and young children. The nutrition services are integrated in the city’s comprehensive COVID-19 response.
Good nutrition is essential in the fight against COVID-19. Kayang labanan ang pandemya kung ang nutrisyon ay tama!
Article contributed by Mr. Alvin P. Limbauan, Nutritionist-Dietitian I of Pasig City
(APL/TAR/MEVF/NNCNCR)
