Palo, Leyte-In a forum organized by the National Nutrition Council 8 on Wednesday July 14, 2021, via a virtual platform, nutrition action officers, media group and other stakeholders saw an opportunity to scale nutrition interventions in 2022 especially on the implementation of the first 1,000 days of the child’s life program.

Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator, Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo, Jr. discussed explicitly the RA 11148 or the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act” its importance and salient features.

Dr. Dotollo said that with the implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling, the nutrition action officers, and other stakeholders shall push for and lobby intensively for the inclusion of nutrition programs, projects, and activities in the 2022 Annual Investment Program including the creation of the nutrition action officers at the local government units.

The forum highlighted the comprehensive program on the first 1000 days, major strategies, and programs to scale up health and nutrition services, tips for local government to scale up nutrition interventions, and the whole-of-nation approach to scale up nutrition interventions in the first 1,000 days of the child’s life.

To complement the discussion, Ms. Felecita R. Borata of the Department of Health discussed about the “Health and Nutrition Services in the First 1000 Days of Life” which focused on DOH health and nutrition services in the first 1,000 days that have been found effective to combat malnutrition.

Ms. Borata emphasized the specific interventions during the conception, pregnancy and birth or the 270 days, first 6 months or the 180 days or 0-5 months of the child and the 6-23 months of life covering the period of 181-550 days.

The forum ended with the high hopes for nutrition program implementation in 2022 involving the whole community to support and engage with the program on the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. #NASLabordo