Malnutrition remains a global threat, particularly in a child’s life. In the Philippines, the government formulated the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022 to address the pressing problem of malnutrition. It consists of various programs which aim to address the immediate, underlying, and basic causes of malnutrition.
One of the PPAN nutrition-specific programs is the Infant and Youth Child Feeding (IYCF). IYCF program is considered a key area in improving nutrition status and promoting healthy growth and development of children. Its sole goal is to reduce child mortality and morbidity through optimal feeding of infants and young children. Ideal feeding of children, particularly in the first 2 years of life, is critical for optimal nutrition.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that each year, 45% of all child deaths globally were associated with undernutrition, and many of these deaths are related with inappropriate feeding practices during the first year of life.
To improve a child’s survival, WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) issued a global strategy for IYCF. For optimal feeding, the WHO and UNICEF recommended the (1) early breastfeeding initiation or breastfeeding within the first hour of birth; (2) exclusive breastfeeding for the 0-6 months old children; and (3) timely and appropriate complementary feeding at 6 months old up to 2 years old and beyond with continued breastfeeding.
Further, to address the problem on IYCF practices, the Department of Health and its partners formulated the Philippine IYCF Strategic Plan (2019-2030) which was anchored on the global strategy for IYCF.
The plan aims to focus on the First 1000 Days which directs the stakeholders to nurture and nourish the mother and child and reduce all forms of malnutrition, particularly stunting. Likewise, it creates an enabling environment to implement optimal and appropriate IYCF practices.
In 2019, the Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) reported that the Philippines has low adherence to IYCF recommendations. The DOST-FNRI showed that exclusive breastfeeding was low at 32.1%. Meanwhile, the timely introduction of complementary feeding for 6-23 months old children is at 81.6%. However, 88.3% of the same age group did not receive appropriate complementary feeding based on a minimum acceptable diet, suggesting poor quality and quantity of complementary foods.
The drivers to strengthen IYCF are the establishment of lactation stations in public places and private and public offices and the enforcement of Republic Act No.10028 known as “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009” and Executive Order No. 51 or Milk Code. Compliance to the said policies is also being done and monitored by the local government units (LGUs). In Region 10, the National Nutrition Council X and Cagayan de Oro City Breastfeeding and IYCF Task Force launched an IYCF Hotline to assist and help mothers address their IYCF concerns.
In addition, to guide the communities in strengthening the IYCF program, training and deployment of IYCF Peer Counsellors and IYCF Support Groups were conducted and implemented. The LGUs also intensify their pregnancy tracking to ensure that all pregnant mothers avail of basic health services such as prenatal visits and micronutrients supplementations. Information, education, and communication (IEC) materials were distributed to further promote IYCF, along with the conduct of nutrition education classes like the Pabasa sa Nutrisyon.
To ensure all infants and young children have optimum health and nutrition, all partners and stakeholders must be mobilized to promote and protect IYCF practices. Involvement of the families and communities is important in supporting and adopting IYCF. Sa PPAN, panalo ang bayan! (NO II Arlie Joy O. Damiles)
References:
Department of Health. INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING PROGRAM. Retrieved
April 11, 2022, from https://doh.gov.ph/infant-and-young-child-feeding#:~:text=A%20global%20strategy%20for%20Infant,and%20young%20child%20feeding%20practices.
Department of Health. Department Circular No. 2019-0537. Circulation of the Philippine
Infant and Young Child Feeding (LYCF) 2019 to 2030 (4TYCF2030) Strategic Plan.
Safety, N. A. F. (2021, April 12). Indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding
practices: definitions and measurement methods. World Health Organization Publications. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240018389
United Nations Human Rights Council. (n.d.). Module 4: IYCF | Standardised Expanded
Nutrition Survey. https://sens.unhcr.org/introduction/module-3-iycf/
World Health Organization. (2021, June 9). Infant and young child feeding.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infant-and-young-child-feeding
