RA 11148 otherwise known as “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag Nanay Act it identifies all of the services required for the first 1000 days of life, including prenatal check-up, immunization of pregnant and young children, dietary supplementation programs for target groups, training of health and nutrition workers, provision of other health and nutrition services, psychosocial stimulation, and other assistance that each stakeholder may provide.
Hence, the Department of Health (DOH) XII together with National Nutrition Council (NNC) XII completed the rollout activity to the provincial and local health/nutrition providers on the newly repackaged community Maternal Nutrition, Infant and Young Child Feeding (MNIYCF) peer counseling training. It was a four-day course designed to provide a shared understanding of baby and early child nutrition among health workers, other partners, and interested parties. It also entails assuring the protection, promotion, and support of exclusive breastfeeding, as well as timely and effective supplemental nutrition while breastfeeding is continued. The activity was done with 3 batches, held on July 27-30, 2021 (first Batch) August 24-27, 2021 (second batch) and September 21-24 (third batch), respectively.
The harmonized training package ensures that malnutrition prevention and treatment are included in routine and emergency programming, and that care is integrated using a life-stage approach. Stakeholders view children's well-being as intimately connected to their mothers', and IYCF key interventions focus on the first 1000 days of life, from conception to the child's first two years.
The training is dynamic as it includes, discussions and presentations, practicum, group work and demonstration-return demonstration of the following topics: Overview of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition, Overview of the National Plan of Action on Infant and Young Child Feeding, First 1000 Days of Life, Maternal Health & Nutrition, Recommended IYCF Practices: Breastfeeding & Complementary Feeding, IYCF – related policies, Counseling on maternal, infant and young child nutrition, IYCF in the context of Emergency HIV and other Infectious Diseases, Child Development, Behavior change activities, Community Organizing and supportive supervision, Mother Baby Friendly Philippines(MBFP) Reporting platform. The activity is designed in such a way that they can be supported by devoted, knowledgeable, and caring local government health workers who will be mobilized to put these policies into action to address malnutrition.
Through the training conducted the DOH XII encourages all Local Government Units (LGUs) to scale up national and local health and nutrition programs through a strengthened integrated strategy for maternal, neonatal, and child health and nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life, particularly implementation of MNIYCF program thereby leads to Strong and resilient health systems which is important in this time of health crisis. (NOIIUtlang/OIC-NPCFlores)
