With the emergence of 4 COVID-19 positive cases in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur(ZDS), the Early Childhood Care and Development in the First 1000 (ECCD F1K) Days Program in the municipalities of Aurora, Mahayag and Kumalarang heightened their COVID-19 preparation to prevent the worsening of the situation. These include organization of inter-agency COVID 19 task forces and nutrition clusters, comprehensive information, education and communication (IEC)-dissemination campaigns using multi-media approaches, community quarantines ranging from general to enhanced level to momentary total lockdowns in certain places, establishment of enhanced checkpoints, strict observance of social and physical distancing among family members and community residents, use of face mask especially in public places, color-coded scheme quarantine passes, imposition of curfew hours, liquor bans and gambling activities following the enforcement of executive orders coming from the Chief Executives from the national down to the barangay levels.
In consideration to improve health and good nutritional well-being of the general population as effective strategies to fight against this pandemic infection, the health, nutrition and other social services of the ECCD F1K areas were also elevated like comprehensive and inclusive distribution of food packs and relief goods which consist of several kilos of rice, canned goods, pack of noodles along with fresh vegetables, seashells, chicken and multivitamins aside from blanket provision of Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplement Small Ouantitv (LNS-SQ) Ready-To-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF) among Pregnant and Lactating Women and Young Children Ages 6-23 months old giving more priority to identified malnourished and nutritionally-at-risk individuals in order to prevent stunting. Sacks of rice grains were also made available to farmers to ensure continuous supply of our primary staple food. Social amelioration to all qualified families were also provided as mandated and the local governments spared some of their local funds as financial assistance to those not covered by the implementing national guidelines. Personal protective equipment to frontliners were procured to ensure their safety and they continued to scout and evaluate for possible quarantine facilities in their respective municipalities.
This COVID 19 pandemic disease which started in Wuhan, China later in 2019 until today continued to shatter lives and separates families and loved ones on their own in fear of contracting the disease in order to prevent contagion not only here in the Philippines but worldwide and because of these, the National Nutrition Council – IX (NNC-IX) is in full support to the efforts of the national government as a whole to fight against COVID 19. The NNX-IX will continue with its commitment to provide reliable, accurate, and veracious significant nutrition, health and related information to the general public and will perpetuate in coordinating with other national government agencies in the provision of technical assistance to all component LGUs of Zamboanga Peninsula most especially in the ECCD F1K areas to ensure food and nutrition security influencing the general wellbeing of the people.
ECCD F1K PNC Elton N. Pelegrino, RN
