The National Nutrition Council Region IX (NNC9) successfully held the Ceremonial Launching of the Tutok Kainan: Dietary Supplementation Program (DSP) in the Provinces of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte on February 10 and 11, 2022, respectively. The aforementioned activity serves as the kick-off in the actual implementation of the said program in the two provinces. The successive events were held in the Municipality of Mahayag for the Province of Zamboanga del Sur (ZDS) and in Dipolog City for the Province of Zamboanga del Norte (ZDN). A total of one hundred fifty-two (152) participants from face-to-face and via Google Meet virtual platform was recorded. Among these are the twenty-four (24) pregnant women beneficiaries together with the virtual presence of the Cabinet Secretary and IATF-ZH Chair Atty. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles and the Assistant Secretary of Health and NNC Executive Director Dr. Azucena M. Dayangirang who delivered their Inspirational Message. Likewise, RNAHC Chair and DOH9 OIC-Director Dr. Joshua G. Brillantes, NNC9 RNPC Nimfa D. Ekong, Local Nutrition Committee members of the host LGUs, Nutrition Action Officers, Local Nutrition Program Coordinators, representatives of DAR9 and concerned ARBOs, and other local nutrition program implementers of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte were also present both physically and virtually. Further, the event was streamed live via the NNC9 official Facebook page that garnered five hundred seventy (570) views on both occasions.
As malnutrition remains an alarming problem in our country with the threat of being aggravated further in this time of COVID-19 pandemic, this poses a big challenge for the government to address this deteriorating concern. In fact, stunting among children under-five years old continues to be a major nutrition problem not just here in the Philippines but globally, affecting millions. To put into context, based on recent global surveys, Filipinos remain the second to the shortest in the ASEAN region, 9th in the double burden of stunting, and 10th in the global burden of wasting. One of PPAN’s strategic thrusts is the focus on the First 1000 days, the period from conception up to the child’s second birthday being considered as the “Golden window of opportunity” in order for the child to achieve his or her full potential in the different aspects of growth and development.
With this, DSP “Tutok Kainan” being the newly-conceived nutrition-specific project of our government, will be among the flagship programs of the NNC that has been perceived to immediately address the problem of malnutrition. This is also among the COVID-19 responses of the government which also operationalizes RA 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act focusing on a much-needed nutrition intervention, dietary supplementation of pregnant women and young children 6-23 months old, especially during the pandemic where livelihoods of the marginalized face many challenges. This has something to do with providing dietary supplementation in relation to the early childhood care and development in the 1st 1000 days of life wherein pregnant women and children under 2 years of age must be given an intervention package that will not only target nutrition but also, in the aspects of health, early education and other social services.
The dietary supplementation aims to prevent stunting and to provide the platform for educating mothers on desirable complementary feeding practices and promoting local food supply value chain between the national government program “Tutok Kainan” and the local Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs), Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations and farmer-fisherfolk cooperatives. This program specifically aims to contribute to the prevention of stunting among children 0-23 months old by improving the quality and quantity of food and nutrient intakes and utilization of related ECCD F1K services among nutritionally at-risk pregnant women in the target Tutok Kainan program areas.
During the program, the Provincial Governors of ZDS Hon. Victor J. Yu and of ZDN Hon. Roberto Y. Uy together with the mayors of the host LGUs Hon. Manuel T. Saladaga of the Municipality of Mahayag and Hon. Darel Dexter T. Uy of the City of Dipolog expressed their Message of Commitment to the program. Among the highlights of the occasion was the distribution of enhanced nutribun to the pregnant women beneficiaries. In return, they manifested their appreciation for being selected as program beneficiaries through the Expression of Gratitude delivered by Ms. Lenie Caling for ZDS and Ms. Carla Macasambat for ZDN.
The successful conduct of the launching was concluded with a meaningful message of RNPC Ekong that goes, “… may this launching come to a graceful end towards opening a new chapter to the lives of the beneficiaries. We look forward to seeing our beneficiaries improving in terms of their nutritional status during our regular monitoring activities and become well-nourished individuals and deliver healthy babies in the near future.” Indeed, we need to closely monitor this program as the name implies, “Tutok Kainan”, to keep track of its journey on making a difference in the lives of the program beneficiaries and to our nation as a whole. Make way to the full and successful implementation of the Tutok Kainan DSP!
PNFP Marie-Claire Gaas, RND
PNFP Rowence F. Zorilla, RND
