BY KATRINA SANCHEZ/ADDU INTERN
THE NATIONAL Nutrition Council Region (NNC) XI announced the series of feeding programs under their strategic interventions to address malnutrition in vulnerable groups on July 8.
Retsebeth M. Laquihon, NNC XI nutrition program coordinator OIC, disclosed the timeline of operations of their ongoing “Tutok Kainan dietary supplementation feeding program” for nutritionally at-risk pregnant women, lactating mothers and infants aged 6-23 months old during the Kapihan sa Dabaw held at SM City Davao.
“Ongoing na ‘yung social preparation[s] and that will be implemented sa third quarter (The social preparations are ongoing and will be implemented in the third quarter),” she said.
Due to a limited budget, the program won’t cover the entire region but will only operate in identified municipalities.
Laquihon noted that “Tutok Kainan” aims to prevent malnutrition in pregnancy and complements the Department of Health’s (DOH) “Healthy Karinderya” program, piloted in Digos City, for malnourished pregnant women.
Moreover, other ventures of NNC XI include a feeding program for daycare children aged 3-5 years old and a nationally-funded, school-based feeding program by the Department of Education (DepEd) for ‘wasted’ children.
NNC XI calls for support from the people, especially LGUs, NGOs, and the private sector, in intensifying their efforts to address malnutrition in the country through the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023-2028 in celebration of the 50th Nutrition Month.
File Photo: Bing Gonzales
