The Nutrition International (NI) and Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) is one of the active nutrition partners of Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tacurong City. They are working to enhance the health of rural Filipino communities by offering training programs for local government health officials, including as mayors and municipal health officers, in order to develop health leadership and improve governance. The city of Tacurong is one of the pilot areas of ZFF and NI in the country to help with the local nutrition program management particularly the First 1000 Days program.

Last September 24, 2021, the ZFF and NI officially handed over sets of nutrition equipment which includes an infant beam scale, a stadiometer, and double electric breast pumps to the 26 Barangay Health Stations (BHS) of the LGU. The distribution of nutrition equipment drew support from the local officials; hence the activity was graced by the City Mayor Lino Montilla, Vice Mayor Lalaine Montilla and some of the City Councilors. A representative from the 26 BHS were also present.
The distribution of the standard tools is to facilitate gathering of accurate and reliable data and to give convenience to the Barangay Nutrition and Health Workers during monitoring of nutritional status of the preschoolers thus will provide them with real picture of their local nutrition situation, particularly during this time of pandemic, and thereby come up with an appropriate and effective nutrition-related action along the PPAN 2017-2022.
During his remarks, Mayor Montilla expressed his profound gratitude for the unwavering support and assistance that ZFF and NI have provided to the LGU Tacurong City since day one, stating that the nutrition program governance have improved as a result of their dedication and efforts. Further, he also stated that he will do everything in his power to prevent malnutrition and ensure that the efforts of their nutrition partners will not be in waste.
The National Nutrition Council (NNC) XII encourages Local Government Units to collaborate with viable private and/or non-government organizations to work together to achieve common goal; reduction of all forms of malnutrition and improve access to basic quality health and nutrition services thereby leads to improvement of governance and success of PPAN. ( NOII Utlang/OIC-NPC)

Reference:
https://zuelligfoundation.org/