The Vision “A Nutritionally Healthy Marinduque guides the Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC) in fighting malnutrition. The PNC is strongly convinced that a well – nourished people will direct the community to progress and sustained development.

The collective effort of PNC, Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC) and Barangay Nutrition Committees (BNC) of Marinduque have resulted in a better quality of life for their constituents. This is evidenced by the continued reduction in the prevalence of stunting from 17.8% in 2017 to 10.3% in 2019 and in the prevalence of wasting from 5.3% in 2017 to 3.4% in 2019.

The reduction would not have been possible if not for the sustained and improved implementation of the following provincial initiatives through convergence and partnership:

1. In support to RA 10028 & R.A 11148- Child Health & Nutrition in the First 1000 Days of Life. A local resolution adopting the said policies was implemented that led to the adopting the said policies that led to the establishment of lactation stations in some government, offices, municipalities and barangay halls/ health stations. The presence of community breastfeeding support groups and peer counsellors ensured the promotions of breastfeeding to pregnant women and lactating mothers. Breastfeeding advocates and mother clusters with mother leaders were organized to strengthen monitoring and support to lactating mothers. As a result, exclusive breastfeeding has improved with the early initiation of exclusive breastfeeding following the essential intrapartum & newborn care protocol (UNANG YAKAP) & rooming in after delivery within the context of COVID-19
2. With DOH Dept. Memorandum 2020-0237, Interim Guidelines for the delivery of Nutrition Services in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic. The delivery of essential nutrition services: management of acute malnutrition, promotion & monitoring of a child’s growth & development and promotion of healthy diet for the prevention or management of non- communicable diseases (NCD’s), including overweight & obesity and promotion of hygiene & food safety.
3. To supplement food intake of children the Provincial Government allocated 2M budget for Dietary Supplementation of UW & SUW preschool children and supplementary feeding for 6-23 months.
4. The Provincial Nutrition Office also invested in building capacities of local nutrition workers by providing training like MNIYCF, Basic Course for Barangay Nutrition scholars, MNIYCF refresher course and monitoring.
5. Distribution of Nutribuns to School Children
6. Production of nutrient – dense food such as nutribun, nutrimix, choco oats, tutong, arrozcaldo etc. intended for malnourished children.
7. Conduct of nutrition education promotion and advocacies as the main strategy in battling malnutrition.

All these initiatives marked the improved nutrition situation of the province.

Written by: NO I Jhanna Camela C. Torres and the Marinduque Provincial Nutrition Committee