BUTUAN CITY- Attended by the regional and provincial representatives, a dietary supplementation program with a mother’s class was launched on 26 January 2023 at Barangay Unidos, Tago, Surigao del Sur.

The launching was warmly welcomed by Barangay Chairperson Alfonso Lauron and thanked the Provincial Government of Surigao del Sur for taking good care of the children in the province.

Nurse Paolo R. Espinosa shared that the activity in Barangay Unidos is the first of the many areas which feeding programs and mothers which will be conducted this year.

The feeding program is coupled with a mother’s class which will provide health and nutrition tips to mother and caregivers, Mr. Espinosa added.

Provincial Nutrition Action Officer, Miloniza N. Serra informed that the Provincial Nutrition Office is ready to provide the commodities for the dietary supplementation or the feeding program implementation.

She made mention that the Dietary Supplementation Program  is a banner program of Governor Alexander T. Pimentel under the " Always Yes to First 1000 days Program” or AY1K program. 

Caraga Nutrition Program Coordinator, Dr. Nino Archie S. Labordo shared that the first 1,000 days is relevant to the growth and development of the child, as this is the period of maximum development termed in books as the golden period of opportunity.

Dr. Labordo emphasized that the rearing and care of the child should start at the time the mother gets pregnant, during the 6 months of the child’s birth and the period where the baby can be given complementary feeding at its 6 months up to 2 years old.

The Provincial Government of Surigao del Sur has initially allocated 300 nutripaks to the Barangay Health Station and shall be implemented for 120 feeding days.

The AYIK program is a whole-year-round program that is implemented in the 17 municipalities and 2 cities of the Province of Surigao del Sur. #NASLabordo