Samboan, Cebu - The Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC) of this 5th class municipality launched their Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) in June 2022. The program will benefit all undernourished 6-59 months old children in the municipality with the objective of improving stunting and other forms of malnutrition experienced by these children. The LGU purchased easy to prepare fortified supplementary food commodities and distributed these to all undernourished young children of all 15 barangays of the municipality.
The SFP is the local government’s version of Tutok Kainan Supplementation program that aims to supplement the dietary intake of nutritionally challenged children, particularly young children 6-23 months old in food-insecure households of Samboan. The program not only aims to increase energy intake but also improve consumption of micronutrients like iron, iodine, and vitamin A of these children.
Regarded as preventive intervention to address stunting, the program is principally implemented by the Rural Health Unit of Samboan composed of the Municipal Health Officer, Public Health Nurse, midwives, and BNSs in cooperation with the Human Resources for Health NDPs and NDDP. The team distributes the food commodities and conducts weekly monitoring of the weights and heights of enrolled children. The implementers combine the supplementary feeding with nutrition education program that aims to improve the mothers' and child caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices, as well as those of other family members. They were also taught on key nutritional practices and growth monitoring.
Samboan MNC is hopeful that the program will be a success with the cooperation of all health workers and caregivers for a taller, healthier, and brilliant children of Samboan. // ND II Bea Margaux E. Cornelia, RND
