Occidental Mindoro - the National Nutrition Council granted ninety-eight (98) measuring tools to eleven (11) towns of Occidental Mindoro as part of NNC’s assistance to the Early Childhood Care and Development for the First 1000 Days (ECCD-F1K) expansion areas. The measuring tools include Length Mats and Microtoise which will be used by Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) in their monthly weight monitoring of 0 – 23 months children.

Growth monitoring is one of the major activities under the ECCD-F1K program to closely monitor if a child is growing well. Stunting is one of the forms of undernutrition wherein the length or height of a child is not appropriate for his/her age in months. Stunting during the First 1000 Days of life can have irreversible effects on the physical and mental development of a child, consequences of which are felt and seen way into adulthood.

To prevent stunting and other forms of malnutrition, NNC developed the ECCD Program that involves the delivery of an intervention package that is focused on the first 1000 days of life. This recognizes the “golden window of opportunity” during which key health, nutrition, early learning, and social development services should be available for optimum growth and development of a child. Expansion areas are provided by the NNC training support, funding for home community food production and technical assistance, monitoring and evaluation

The province of Occidental Mindoro, being one of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) areas is one of the expansion areas of the ECCD-F1K program which are provided with training support, funding for home community food production and technical assistance monitoring and evaluation. (FEPBacena/MEBBlanco)