3 thousand preschoolers sign up for nutrition program

CEBU, Philippines —  A total of 3,000 preschool children from 42 child development centers and eight supervised neighborhood playgroups in the City of Naga, Cebu have registered for the National Nutrition Council’s Focused Nutrition Assistance Program (FNAP).

The city launched this newest nutrition package, a combination of nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive program with intensified nutrition and health education and food security components, for preschool children.

The 3,000 kids are the first set of program recipients and are selected based on the most recent Operation Timbang Plus data.

NNC-7, in a statement, said each program beneficiary will be provided with food coupons good for three 40-day periods or a total of 120 days.

The beneficiaries need to present the coupons at identified redemption centers to avail of local fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, eggs, fish, rice, corn, and condiments.

“The families of these children in turn will provide evidence of the meal preparation and consumption every redemption period and a proof on the use of the educational learning materials in exchange of the next rounds of food coupons,” the council said.

With the full implementation of the program, the Naga City Nutrition Committee hopes to encourage local investors as it increases the linkage between the food supply value chain and reduce stunting in the city.

NNC-7 added that the implementation of the program is linked to the different local markets in the city which serve as redemption centers of food commodities for the families of children enrolled in the program.

The redemption centers/market partners are identified by a team composed of the market administrator, city agriculturist, and Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) - designate based on defined criteria.

Supplies of stall owners and vendors who are market partners are sourced from local farmers and fisherfolks of the city.

FNAP aims to deliver key health and nutrition concepts to parents and caregivers of preschool children and hopes to improve their knowledge, attitude, and practices aside from providing easy food access and making food available to program beneficiaries.

FNAP also operationalizes RA 11037 or the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act that aims at institutionalizing a national feeding program for undernourished children in public day care, kindergarten, and elementary schools to combat hunger and undernutrition in Philippines.

Boosting Cebu’s nutrition program

Meanwhile, NNC-7 and the Cebu Provincial Health Office will work together in a bid to improve nutrition program implementation in the province.

The nutrition team is planning to maximize Local Health Board meetings to raise and act on concerns in managing the nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive interventions.

And to join development management officers in their advocacy and promotion efforts with local chief executives for the latter to increase investments in nutrition as it builds pandemic-resilient local government units.

With the strengthened collaboration and provision of technical assistance, NNC-7 said, the delivery of quality nutrition services by LGUs will be further strengthened to improve maternal and child health outcomes in this premier province. — KQD (FREEMAN)