Iloilo - Twenty-eight (28) expectant mothers from ECCD F1K area Concepcion, expressed their joy as beneficiaries of the Dietary Suppementation Program (DSP) for Pregnant Women during a monitoring activity led by ECCD F1K PNC Gelaine Trabado on May 23, 2019.

"Not only are we provided with additional nutrients, we are also taught how to prepare complementary food and how to properly nourish our kids," Ms. Mia Nicholas of Barangay Nipa said. She also mentioned that they appreciate that they had the opportunity to be the first ones to benefit from the program.

Ms. Ma. Josephine de Guzman, a first-time pregnant mother and originally from a neighboring municipality, said that she was very thankful that she was able to participate in the program while working in the local Bureau of Fire Protection, She also noted that compared to the pregnant women in Concepcion, pregnant women in her hometown looked thinner. They also appreciate the fact that the dry ration can be shared with the other members of the family.

Mothers attending don't mind going to the health center to avail the hotmeals. The DSP has increased their close relationship as they share experiences during pregnancy. According to BNS Celia Franam of Brgy Nipa, in cases where mothers cannot attend the daily feeding due to unforeseen emergency, BHWs who live nearby bring the food/ share of the mother.

The DSP for pregnant women is 90-day program where hot meals are provided every weekday for 76 days and dry rations consisting of rice, monggo and oil every weekend for 14 days with each meal consisting 300 kcal based on FNRI recipes for pregnant women. The goal of the program is to reduce the number of nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women and increase the number of infants with normal birth-weight. This is in lilne with the goal of the ECCD F1K program which is to reduce the prevalence of stunting among children 0-23 months old.// AKJ

(Article orginally posted on May 31, 2019)