The Early Child Care and Development F1K Program addresses the call for a holistic approach for the provision of health, nutrition, education, and social welfare services to children 0-8 years old, but with an even refined focus on the First 1000 days of life. The ECCD-F1K covers pregnancy period and the first 2 years of life of the child or the First 1000 days of life. This period has been called the “golden window of opportunity” duringwhich delivery of health, nutrition, and early learning interventions would result to optimum physical and brain development.
In Region V, there are four (4) Local Government Units with ECCD-F1K Program funded by the National Government through the National Nutrition Council. These LGUs ave their own ECCD-F1K Plans that are being implemented to address the problems on stunting and wasting, and prevent maternal deaths among pregnant women.
Special events in Sipocot, Camarines Sur were held on 7-8 June 2018 with Mother’s Classes Graduation, HAKAB Na Sipocoteῆos, and Buntis Congress 2018. These activities aimed to increase awareness of the community about the F1K program in the community and to generate community participation and commitment to enable conduct of F1K related activities such as IYCF and Home Food Production. There were 351 mothers from 21 barangays of Sipocot who completed the Idol Ko Si Nanay Learning Session and Participatory Cooking Demonstration. PNC Henedina V. Betito was the Guest Speaker, and she encouraged the parents and MNC members to continuously support and encourage other pregnant women, women planning to get pregnant, and mother of children 0-23 months to attend nutrition education classes for optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding. The F1K also aims to facilitate adoption of desired behaviors to contribute to the reduction in the prevalence of nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women and stunting among children 0-23 months old, increase breastfeeding rates and improve complementary feeding practices. In closing, she encouraged all the ECCD workers to sustain the interest among target groups and stakeholders in the implementation of the program. Vice-Mayor Elizabeth O. Abergos and Kagawad on Health Jeane M. Chan likewise shared their respective message to the graduating mothers and thanked NNC for this special program in Sipocot.
In the afternoon, HAKAB NA Sipocoteῆos – the first LGU to do this in Camarines Sur- was held where 274 breastfeeding mothers latched their babies simultaneously in one full minute to promote the benefits and normalization of breastfeeding in the society and to celebrate the rights of the mothers to nurture their babies.
The next day, 8 June 2018, Buntis Congress 2018 happened at the Activity Center of Sipocot with 358 pregnant mothers in attendance. It is an assembly of all pregnant mothers promoting further awareness for all expectant mothers– increasing knowledge, attitude and skills on the different health care interventions for the pregnant women as well as increasing their health-seeking behavior. In the morning, urinalysis to determine sugar in the urine for the prevention of Gestational Diabetes; Tetanus Toxoid Immunization and lecture on the importance of Diet during and after pregnancy, and importance of Newborn Screening and immunization were held with Dr. Vicky Rebolayan, MHO of Magarao as the invited speaker.
The search for Mrs. Buntis 2018 with 34 pregnant mothers participating in the pageant happened in the afternoon. The highlight of the pageant was the question and answer portion where all the questions raised were from those taken up in Idol Ko Si Nanay. In addition to Mrs. Buntis 2018, other awards given to deserving mothers were Mrs. Q and A and Mrs. ECCD 2018. Everyone went home happy but quite tired due to the whole day’s activity.
This event was made feasible through the efforts of Sipocot RHU Staff, headed by MHO and MNAO, Dr. Nena L. Cruz, municipal officials and other ECCD TWG members. (NPC/NO III/PNC ECCD F1k Coordinator Bicol)
