By Julius Carmelo A. Parcarey RN MSN National and Local Government Units (LGU) provide many programs designed to help meet the nutritional needs of its constituents and the general populace. Through these efforts, local government units are able to provide information about and access to nutrition services. In Quezon province, the Provincial Nutrition Action Office (PNAO) is the one responsible for establishing the identified programs for all affected municipalities. Its agenda had been conducted as a series of programs and projects focusing on different health and nutritional issues province wide. In addition, the high prevalence of malnutrition, the emergence of new issues and problems, food insecurity and the need for proper nutritional programs place a demand on establishing immediate action.
The prevalence of malnutrition is omnipresent in the province tagging Quezon as number one in CALABARZON having the highest prevalence of malnutrition with 11.14% (OPT 2014).Thus, the need for a strategic and responsive nutrition program is very important. As indicated by FAO in 2010, malnutrition in the Philippines is caused by a host of interrelated factors – health, physical, social, economic and others. Food supply and how it is distributed and consumed by the populace have consequent impact on nutritional status. Thus, collaborative efforts of government sectors such as PNAO, OPA, DSWD, and PHO in coordination with the local chief executive is important in the conduct of a program. Hence NUTRICOMBO was born.
The program addresses the immediate need of the malnourished kid and their family in the aspect of nutrition, food security and livelihood. It provides complementary food through micronutrient powder supplementation to affected children ages 6-23 months old and supplementary food through NutriPan (nutritious pandesal) with fortified malunggay and dilis powder to 24-71 months old UW and SUW children. Also, the Gulayan sa Bakuran component was introduced. The provincial government provided seeds, seedlings and cuttings to affected families of the identified malnourished children and they are presented with the concept of food availability in the home. Inputs and practices, preparation, growing and harvesting are taught on which outdoor public or private spaces are cultivated to produce local food source. Lastly, to obtain appropriate food for the family, resources should be ensured. Another component was added to improve practices on which families will gain additional financial means. “Thoughtful entrepreneurial interventions can create income-generating opportunities for the family and community through this program. Through the support of the provincial government livelihood trainings and skills development are given. ” said by PNAO Roberto Gajo .
It is imperative to know that, this program contains a package solution not only for the families of the underweight and severely underweight children but also to the community as well. A holistic approach encourages local government units to develop similar programs that provide and involve different activities/ projects that complement each other. The development and implementation of this program is developed by the Provincial Nutrition Action Office of Quezon Province.
