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- Category: Region NCR
The city government of Pasig distributed nutritious food packs to school children through its Malusog na Batang Pasigueno Program or MBP as an effort to combat the problem of hunger and malnutrition among students.
The program was launched on May 17-20, 2021, in the 44 public elementary and secondary schools in the city. The program is one of the flagship programs of the city government under the leadership of Mayor Vico Sotto who is also the Chair of the Pasig City Nutrition Committee.
Read more: Pasig City distributes nutritious food packs to school children
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One of the population groups most affected by COVID-19 are the school children. Various studies in other countries have shown that the COVID-19 lockdown has worsen the overweight and obesity problem among adults and even in children. The ongoing community quarantine, work-from-home set-up and distance learning scheme have promoted unhealthy eating and sedentary lifestyle. This scenario is expected to be true to the Philippines as well.
In a meeting with the health and nutrition coordinators of Schools Division Offices (SDO) in NCR and DepEd-NCR held on June 8, 2021, it was found out that implementation of some nutrition activities was stopped in 2020 such as the school weighing and provision of weekly iron-folic acid supplementation in some divisions. On the other hand, some activities were continued with modification but were implemented later in the year or during the early months of 2021 such as the School-Based Feeding Program, Gulayan sa Paaralan, and WASH in Schools Program or Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene.
Read more: NCR SDOs urged to sustain nutrition actions for school children
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Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) continue to provide nutrition services despite the current pandemic. In an online meeting with local nutrition cluster coordinators and local information management officers on 27 May 2021, participants from the 16 cities and one municipality in Metro Manila confirmed that the delivery of nutrition services is being sustained despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Guided by the nutrition cluster advisories issued by the National Nutrition Council (NNC), nutrition workers such as Barangay Nutrition Scholars and nutritionist-dietitians, and other service providers work together to reach out to pregnant and lactating mothers, infants and young children especially the malnourished, and their families.
Read more: Continuity of delivery of nutrition services is essential during COVID-19
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The First 1000 days of life, also known as the “golden window of opportunity” is the period wherein good nutrition must be given to mother and child to ensure the child’s proper growth and development. This period starts from pregnancy until the child’s second birthday.
However, it is also during this period when growth faltering happens. Stunting or “pagkabansot” in Filipino is an irreversible outcome of inadequate nutrition and repeated bouts of infection during the First 1000 Days. Stunting has long-term effects which include diminished cognitive and physical development, reduced productive capacity and poor health. Stunted children are also prone in becoming overweight and obese in their adulthood.
Good nutrition, health, and proper care in the first 1000 days gives the child the best start to life. So how can we ensure good nutrition in the First 1000 Days?
Read more: Prevent Stunting: Ensure good nutrition in the First 1000 Days
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Child stunting is a complex problem that requires multisectoral and well-coordinated interventions among different sectors and stakeholders. Evidences suggest that nutrition-specific evidence-based interventions should be scaled up to attain 90% coverage to reduce child stunting by 20%. These interventions include iron-folic acid and other micronutrient supplementation for pregnant women and children, promotion of iodized salt, dietary supplementation, implementation of essential newborn care (ENC) protocol, neonatal vitamin K administration, vitamin A supplementation, and promotion of breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices. Better coverage of nutrition-sensitive interventions especially for women and children should also be prioritized.
In 2018, the Republic Act 11148 or the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act” was passed into law to scale up national and local health programs and strengthen delivery of services and interventions in the first 1000 days of life. One of the key players mobilized by the law are the local government units (LGU). LGUs should directly supervise the implementation of the First 1000 Days program in the health centers, rural health units, and/or barangay health stations.
Read more: LGUs urged to scale up nutrition actions during First 1000 Days to prevent child stunting
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MANILA, 02 JUNE 2021– The Scaling Up Movement( SUN) 3.0, the third phase of the United Nations-established movement, calls for accelerated results to eliminate all forms of malnutrition by 2030. In the launch of the SUN 3.0 strategy in the Philippines, stakeholders from the SUN Networks including government, civil society, business sector, academe and donors committed to enhance leadership and country-ownership of nutrition actions to achieve results.
In 2014, the Philippines became the 51st country to join the SUN Movement which has now grown to include 63 countries. The National Nutrition Council Governing Board approved the Philippine registration to the SUN Movement to gain support from other SUN member countries and international development partners, and the United Nations agencies in improving the nutrition situation of the country and in harmonizing existing strategies to ensure effective implementation in order to achieve nutrition targets.
Read more: SUN 3.0 RISES FOR FILIPINOS – A CALL FOR INTENSIFIED NUTRITION ACTIONS
