NNC R2 assisted and provided technical assistance to Santiago City Nutrition Committee during their 2022 Training on Community Maternal Nutrition and Infant and Young Child (MNIYCF) Feeding last 13-16 June 2022 held at Wilmer Hotel and Resort, Santiago City. The activity aimed to capacitate health and nutrition workers in communities to promote proper maternal nutrition and IYCF.
It was attended by 50 BNSs, BHWS, midwives, and nurses of Santiago City. On the first day, NO III Arcinue presented Module 2: Importance of Health and Nutrition of the Mother and Child on the First 1000 Days of Life. He highlighted the health, nutrition, social services, and other services needed by the mother and children on the first 1000 days of life to achieve the child’s full potential. He also presented key points in the first 1000 days program. RNPC Lonzaga presented the Module 3: Maternal Health and Nutrition and highlighted the importance of proper nutrition during pregnancy and lactation period. She ended the day by discussing module 4: Recommended IYCF Practices: Breastfeeding and discussed the proper breastfeeding positions, how to properly express breastmilk, and common issues and problems during breastfeeding.
On the second day, NO III Arcinue presented Module 5: Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition Related Policies including RA 11148 – Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Magnanay Act, EO 51 - the Philippine Milk Code, RA 11210 - Expanded Maternity Leave Law, RA 10028 – Expanded Breastfeeding Act, and RA 10410 or the Early Years Act. RNPC Lonzaga then proceeded in discussing Module 6: How to Counsel on Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition. She allowed the participants to personally demonstrate common scenarios between the worker and the mothers during counselling.
Other topics including complementary feeding for IYCF, IYCF in the context of emergencies, HIV and other infectious diseases, community organizing and supportive supervision, behavior change activities, and child health, development and nutrition were discussed by Ms. Julie Navarro, Ms. Rose Ablaza and Dr. Robelyn Go of Santiago City and ND IV Nerissa Mabbayad of DOHCVCHD.
Role plays were also conducted by the participants to apply skills learned from the training.
Dr. Genaro Manalo, CHO-CNAO- Santiago City, also gave a message before the awarding of certificates to the resource speakers. He acknowledged the support of NNC Region 02 to Santiago City for all their health and nutrition programs. He also recognized that the training will capacitate their health and nutrition workers in promoting good nutrition and promoting breastfeeding and the first 1000 days program in the city.
RD Grace V. Santiago of DOH CVCHD delivered an inspirational message on the last day of the training. She also visited the City Health Office and other health facilities in Santiago City.
DOH CVCHD is also set to conduct MNIYCF trainings for other health and nutrition workers in the region in 2022. – Edzell M. Arcinue
