Siquijor Province - Siquijor Province has implemented the Dietary Supplementation Program which aims to supplement the nutritional intake of the vulnerable groups by providing 1/3rd of their dietary needs particularly “children in food-insecure households.”
This year, the Provincial Nutrition Committee with PNC Secretariat headed by the Provincial Nutrition Program Coordinator Pamela Ida P. Dominguez, adopted the Tutok Kainan Supplementary Program strategy where-in, the program prioritizes nutritionally at-risk pregnant women and children 0-23 months in the reduction of stunting and underweight prevalence in the province by improving the quality and quantity of food and nutrient intake of these target groups.
The dietary Supplementation Program is one of the nutrition-specific programs of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition that gives a direct positive nutritional impact.
The province has piloted three (3) municipalities in their supplementary program for the nutritionally at-risk pregnant women namely Enrique Villanueva, Lazi, and San Juan. These municipalities were not included in the National Tutok Kainan Supplementary Program of the National Nutrition Council for pregnant women conducted last April -June 2021.
The province’s supplementary program composes of three phases for at-risk pregnant women: the first phase is the provision of Enhanced Nutribun; the second phase offers fresh milk and the final or third phase provides Karenderia Meals from a selected Karenderia supplier.
As for children 0-23 months old, the province prioritizes three (3) municipalities with high malnutrition prevalence rates based on the first quarter 2021 OPT Plus report. These municipalities are Lazi, San Juan and Siquijor. Due to preparation constraints during the height of the pandemic, dry feeding was preferred. The provision of nutrient-dense premix goods such as Nutri-cereals and powdered choco and vanilla drinks is given to target children of the above-mentioned municipalities.
A total of 47 nutritionally at-risk pregnant women and 57 0-23 months old children are the beneficiaries of the said supplementary program. The duration of both supplementary programs is 3 months (90 days). With this initiative, Siquijor Province is hoping for a positive outcome to bring hope for the children of Siquijor to have a chance at a brighter future. // ND II Gracey Adolfo, RND
