Last February, there were a total of 250 pregnant women recipients in Baras, Rizal during the launching of NNC’s second batch of the Dietary Supplementation Program (DSP).

The DSP Season 2 was successfully initiated with the support of Baras Mayor Kathrine Robles, Dr. Allen Matignas-Malabanan (MHO/MNAO), Barangay Pinugay Chairman Jofre  R. Seclot,  and the BNS’s of Barangay Pinugay led by Mr. Michael Leonido.

What gives the mother and baby the best start are healthy food like assorted fresh vegetables, fish, chicken and rice,  which were packed and delivered to the recipients every Friday from the first week of February up to the last week of April this year. All 250 pregnant women are from Southville 9 Phase 1 to 5 of Barangay Pinugay.

The DSP beneficiaries also attended the “Nutrition Education“ classes which were scheduled on Tuesdays in the same period of the distribution of the food. Among the topics discussed during the classes were “Idol Ko Si Nanay,” “Infant and Young Child Feeding,” “Pinggang Pinoy and 10 Kumainments,” and “FAITH” (or Food Always in the Home).

The DSP  for pregnant women serves as one of the strategies in the F1K Program to prevent the problem of low birth weight, stunting and other forms of malnutrition through the provision of sufficient and quality supplementary food. It is combined with other interventions, like nutrition education, for a more effective and sustainable result.

By: Mary Emerene P. Pingol