Cagayan de Oro City ─ Last 2 April 2020, the National Nutrition Council Region 10 launched its digital campaign entitled “F1K Days matters,” a series of infographics that focuses on proper nutrition in the first 1000 days of life, the time spanning roughly between pregnancy, and the child’s second birthday. This period is also known as the ‘golden window of opportunity’, wherein foundations for optimum health and development across the lifespan are established. This initiative aims to support the agency’s Early Childhood Care and Development on the First 1000 Days (ECCD-F1K) Program, which recently included Bukidnon Province in its roster of expansion areas for 2020.

This series of infographics will be posted in the NNC X Facebook Page (https://web.facebook.com/NNCregion10) every Thursday, from April to September 2020, highlighting nutrition-related topics that are vital during the first 1000 days. Topics include nutrition needs of pregnant and lactating mothers, breastfeeding promotion, proper complementary feeding, and other health and nutrition interventions during the first 1000 days.

This campaign supports the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN 2017-2022) and looks forward to generating significant impacts in decreasing the incidence of malnutrition particularly stunting, in the region and in the country, as a whole. This campaign also seeks to get the support of both government and non-government agencies to include and prioritize health and nutrition programs in their plan and budget allocation, as investing at this early stage will create a long-term effect on the children’s lives and to the entire community.

NNC X encourages everyone to take part in helping the country yield productive communities through sharing of correct information on the first 1000 days.

Heed the call! Invest in the health and nutrition of pregnant women and children 2 years old and below because the first 1000 days matters! (PNC Stephanie C. Barrio)