Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental – It’s TKSP season again. Being one of the recipients of the most successful Dietary Supplementation Program in the country, the Tutok Kainan Supplementation Program (TKSP) Phase 1 in Santa Catalina in 2021, the Municipal Nutrition Committee committed to support the implementation of Phase 4 of said program.

The sealing of commitment was done on 16 February 2023 during the launching day itself where program implementers led by MNPC Loryjean Necio and the parents of beneficiaries signed the covenant pledging themselves to actively support and participate in the program until its conclusion. Before the commitment signing, a short lecture on the First 1,000 Days and discussion of the roles of parents and caregivers for the program was conducted. Children’s height, weight, and MUAC measurements were also taken before the actual feeding. The children loved the RiMo and they fully consumed their allocation to the delight of parents and health and nutrition workers watching them.

To recall, Santa Catalina is one of the beneficiaries of TKSP Phase 1 that catered to nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women. The beneficiaries regained their nutritional status before giving birth and delivered babies with normal weights thereby affirming the effectiveness of the TKSP in improving birth outcomes.

This time, Santa Catalina is again lucky to be one of the beneficiaries of TKSP Phase 4 that will provide dietary supplementation to 6-23 months old children to help reduce stunting and other forms of malnutrition in the community. Santa Catalina joined the simultaneous launching on 16 February 2023 together with other cities and municipalities in Central Visayas. The program will come to an end after the 180 feeding days.

The signed TKSP tarpaulin is currently displayed at the Municipal Nutrition Office, which is located at RHU 2, barangay Manalongon, Santa Catalina constantly reminding program implementers and beneficiaries to pursue the program and contribute to the betterment of the nutrition situation in the municipality. // ND II Jhianne Mae Nicole C. Tugaoen, RND