Amlan, Negros Oriental – The Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC) of Amlan launched its ‘Pakigstorya ni Mama’. This is two-session interaction with pregnant moms, lactating women and mothers with malnourished child/children on the First 1000 Days. The launching event was held on 26 July 2021 attended all 8 barangays of the municipality with 15 participants per session.

According to UNICEF “the first 1000 days of life is between a woman’s pregnancy and her child’s second birthday. It is a unique period of opportunity when the foundations for optimum health and development across the lifespan are established.” 

With ‘Pakigstorya ni Mama’, Amlan MNC wants to promote and raise awareness on the importance of first 1000 days of life through health and nutrition education classes. Topics discussed were importance prenatal care, exclusive breastfeeding, and complementary feeding. It is an avenue of learning and at the same time encourages mothers to share their experiences about their success and hardships in caring for their children. Also, the need of continued action to address malnutrition even during pandemic was emphasized.

The Amlan MNC is hoping that through this activity mothers would apply what they have learned and would help spread the importance of the first 1000 days of life to their fellow mothers. // ND II Shaira Vita A. Calumpang, RND