The National Nutrition Council – NCR pushed for the integration of Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) services in the first 1000 days of life during the PPAN Movers’ General Assembly held on August 31, 2021. The virtual event was attended by 105 participants composed of nutritionist-dietitians and nutrition action officers from the 17 local government units (LGU) in Metro Manila. 

It is necessary to integrate all existing services of health, nutrition, social welfare, and education to provide the basic holistic needs of young children, particularly the ECCD in the First 1000 Days to ensure that children are provided with the best start to life.
NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo, in her message, highlighted the need for local chief executives to consider nutrition as an important response to COVID-19 as malnutrition is a threat multiplier.

“If all efforts and resources will be put into the COVID-19 response and the implementation of PPAN-based nutrition programs particularly those in the First 1000 Days will be disrupted or discontinued, we might see more children getting malnourished and become stunted and this will be a big problem,” RNPC Federizo said.

RNPC Federizo added, “May COVID-19 pandemic man, tuloy parin ang laban natin sa malnutrisyon. Tuloy parin ang ating pagtutok sa First 1000 days.”

NNC Deputy Executive Director for Technical Service, Ms. Rita D. Papey also hopes that LGUs will keep the PPAN moving amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. “We need to ensure good nutrition for everyone amidst the COVID-19 pandemic,” DED Papey said.

During the program, the participants were oriented on the importance of nutrition in ECCD, the Nurturing Care Framework for Early Childhood Development, and the continuum of services that should be provided through the ECCD-F1K program and how the LGUs can scale up nutrition actions in the First 1000 Days.

Ms. Maria Teresa Abando of Caloocan City, Mr. Fidel Baltazar Dela Cruz of Malabon City, and Ms. Renee Dela Rosa of Navotas City also shared the good practices in the implementation of ECCD-F1K Program in their respective localities. They highlighted the importance of investing in the first 1000 days, collaboration with public and private partners, convergence of programs and services, and unwavering commitment of the local nutrition committee as facilitating factors in the successful implementation of the ECCD-F1K Program.

LGUs are encouraged to invest in essential nutrition actions in line with ECCD-First 1000 Days Program and make PPAN work for nutrition improvement.

Dahil sa PPAN, panalo ang bayan!

Written by:
Nutrition Officer II Theresa A. Rivas and
Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo