Stepping up the implementation of the “Idol ko si Nanay” program by local government units (LGUs) can prevent malnutrition, a resolution approved Tuesday by the Palawan Provincial Board said.
Board Member Eduardo Modesto Rodriguez, author of the approved measure, said the malnutrition prevention program is under the National Nutrition Council (NNC) which aims Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) and offers different learning lessons, including the importance of breastfeeding for children aged two years old and below.
Rodriguez said that based on the NNC, the first 1,000 days of the baby and mother is considered as the most crucial stage because malnutrition and other illnesses may start.
“In response to the need to strengthen a holistic community-based intervention through nutrition education and promotion for behavior change, this Idol ko si Nanay learning sessions were developed,” he said.
Maternal health care and child health interventions, he said, should be given during the pregnancy to protect the mother and child from different possible diseases.
He said interventions such as breastfeeding will help prevent malnutrition.
“[Dapat] may sapat na kaalaman ang mga nanay patungkol sa kahalagahan ng breastfeeding sa paglaki ng isang bata, matuto sa tamang kaalaman, kabilang na ang wastong pagpapakain. Base sa pag-aaral ng mga eksperto sa kalusugan, ito ang panahon kung saan maaaring magsimula ang malnutrition,” he said.
Previously, the Palawan provincial government said it will intensify its effort to reduce the malnutrition rate of 8.98 percent which is higher than 2017’s 8.80 percent.
Rachel Paladan, nutrition action officer of the Provincial Nutrition Action Office (PNAO), said they are also conducting the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) in seven barangays in Palawan.
MELLPI is part of the nutrition program that aims to monitor and evaluate nutritionists in the barangays, she said.
The malnutrition reduction program covers the villages of Alimanguan, San Vicente; Tagumpay in Roxas town; Cabigsing in Cuyo; Villa Fria in Agutaya; Los Angeles in Magsaysay, and Panacan in Narra.
“Nagsimula na tayo sa MELLPI para doon sa mga barangay na ready to evaluate ang kanilang nutrition programs. Strategy natin ito para malaman natin ang implementation ng mga programa ng barangay nutrition committee at kasama din ang mga barangay nutrition scholars natin for evaluation,” Paladan said.
