August 12 - The Provincial Government of South Cotabato through the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) and Provincial Nutrition Office (PNO) in-partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) XII held an orientation on the First 1000 Days. Barangay Nutrition Committee (BNC) members, Brgy. Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and Brgy. Health Workers (BHW) of Koronadal City were convened for the said orientation.

The activity aims to 1.) Emphasize the importance of optimum nutrition in the first 1,000 days of the baby’s life, 2.) Apprise various services and interventions for the first 1000 days population group and 3.) Harmonize Maternal & Child reporting system between BHWs & BNSs.

The orientation tackled the following topics: Significance of Maternal & Child Nutrition, by Ms. Angela Frugalidad. She emphasized nutrition and nutrition-related services being offered at the barangay level for contributing to the optimum nutrition of the mother and child during the first 1000 days of life. Ms. Francy Aguilar of IPHO discussed the Nutrition Situation highlighting the current status of the basic health and nutrition services per barangay. Glen Mar Doctolero, Health Education & Promotion Officer (HEPO) and Leah Fe Utlang, Nutrition Officer II of the NNC XII reviewed the BHW and BNS reporting forms, respectively. They reminded the participants that their roles and functions should be complementary to each other.

Everyone has a vital role to play in ensuring that children receive the care and nutrition that they need. It takes harmonized and complementing interventions between the barangay implementers thru a functional Barangay Nutrition Committee to effectively address the basic and underlying causes of malnutrition in the community. (NOIIUtlang and OIC-NPC Flores)