Quezon City – A total of 250 pregnant women of Barangay  Pinugay in Baras, Rizal were  the grateful recipients of  the first batch of the  Dietary Supplementation Program (DSP)  launched last December 6. The DSP  was  spearheaded by Dr. Allen M. Malabanan (Municipal Health Officer and Municipal Nutrition Action Officer),  and  Brgy. Captain Jofre R. Seclot (Barangay Nutrition Council Chair), with the assistance of Mr. Michael D. Leonido  (Barangay Nutrition Scholar of Pinugay).

Funded by the National Nutrition Council, the DSP  is part of the collective approach targeting the first 1000 days of a child to ensure their optimum growth and to specifically avoid stunting. Included in the program is the  regular Friday  ration  of  nutritious food packs.  

The  commodities  are  good for seven days consumption and  contain the following:  rice, tofu, fresh fish, and chicken, assorted vegetables (such as squash and beans, kangkong, pechay, radish),  vitamins and minerals.  

According to Mr. Leonido, the beneficiaries will further receive additional benefits after they give birth. They will be   part of the  livelihood program that  will   sustain   the initial support  given to them to   prevent the  worsening of their   nutritional status.

Mr. Leonido also mentioned  that among the challenges  experienced by the BNSs during the distribution of food supplies were the long walks while carrying the heavy supplies. They  had to immediately distribute the food packs   to prevent food spoilage.   

Initially, some of the pregnant women  who needed more assistance refused to be helped.  However, the  BNSs eventually  succeeded in  encouraging them  to actively join  the program by carefully explaining  to them the goals   and the benefits from the programs. Nutrition education classes and urban gardening sessions were also conducted.

Most participants  in the well-appreciated  gardening session  come  from Southville 9, a relocation site in Brgy. Pinugay.  They reside in limited spaces with minimum available lots for planting but were able  to recognize the long-term value of urban gardening.

Aside from the monthly growth monitoring, the  0-23 months old children beneficiaries also received vitamin C supplements and ready-to-use food (RUTF) from the Barangay Health Centers. The supplements are intended to  provide them with  stronger immunity amid the pandemic.

By: Ma. Jhonnadelle Ritz H. Castillo