National Nutrition Council Region X conducted a 4 days live-in training on Mobilizing Community Support for IYCF 1st batch for P1, P2 and P3 Provinces and cities at Apple tree Resort and Hotel, Taboc Opol Misamis Oriental last 15-18 October 2013. Participants were the PGN IYCF-PSN trained P/C/MHOs and NAOs, Nurses, Midwives and Nutritionist since 2007 from Provinces of Bukidnon and Mismais Occidental , City of Malaybalay, Ozamiz and Iligan and Municipalities of Manolo Fortich , Libona, Don Carlos, Baroy Lanao del Norte and Maramag. Ms Raquel Buere, Nutrition Officer II and hands on IYCF Coordinator from Naga City were invited to facilitate the training with Ms Helen G Alferez, Nutrition Officer III, from NNC X. A lot of Sharing of Expertise and experiences in handling peer counsellor and Community support group happen between the participants and facilitator which aim to mobilized PC and community support group for the success of implementing the IYCF program.
Regional Director Aristides Concepcion Tan of CHD-DOH X congratulates the participants and stress out to them the importance of breastfeeding in the first 1000 days of the child in his message during the closing program of the 1st batch. This stage is a “window of oppurtunity as it depends on it the future health and nutrition of a child” RD Tan added. After the training, community nutrition workers need to coordinate down to the Barangay level as what RD Tan challege them to do.
This training focuses mainly on the 8 steps on how to mobilize community support for infant and young child feeding to strengthen the campaign, protection and promotion of breastfeeding and correct, timely and adequate complementary feeding for 0-24 month’s old children and beyond. It is seen that mobilizing additional community support for IYCF is very important because it spells out also additional success on IYCF program.
