PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT PRIORITIZES THE FIGHT AGAINST MALNUTRITION
Malnutrition statistics in the Philippines are worrying. But the good news is that reducing malnutrition is among the country’s top priorities. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte himself has vowed to tackle this scourge to ensure that everyone has a chance of leading a healthy and productive life and, as a result, help the country thrive socially and economically.
His commitment can be heard across all levels of the government. “Good nutrition is everybody’s business,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, while representing the President at the 2018 National Nutrition Award Ceremony that was held at the Philippine International Convention Center ( PICC) on July 31.
In the Philippines, one in four pregnant women is anaemic, over 20 percent of newborns are too small at birth and only one in four infants is exclusively breastfed. In addition, just over 33 percent children under five years of age suffer from stunting and just over seven percent from wasting. These and other forms of malnutrition have long lasting harmful consequences, including impairment of mental and physical development, reduced learning and earning capacity and increased risk of nutrition- related chronic diseases. Malnutrition in various forms is also considered the underlying cause for almost half of all child deaths globally.
In response, the Philippine Government has stepped up its efforts to improve nutrition for all Filipinos. A robust national plan known as the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2017 - 2022 is serving as a road map to improve nutrition indicators in the country over the six- year time period. This plan has been developed by the National Nutrition Council ( NNC), the country’s highest policy making and coordinating body on nutrition.
Leading Role of Local Governments
Given the decentralized na- ture of the state, local leadership plays an integral role in implementing and fulfilling the objectives set under any national plan in the Philippines, including the nutrition plans. Recognizing this, the NNC envisions that the local governments will be spearheading the implementation of the sixyear plan for action to improve the overall nutritional status of Filipinos.
“You chart the direction where the nutrition program will go, direct and guide your people so that nutrition services reach every child and mother wherever they are located in your area without delay, you don’t leave anyone behind,” said Secretary Duque to local governing units ( LGUs), during the nutrition award ceremony.
The NNC holds the annual National Nutrition Awards to recognize outstanding LGUs and Barangay Nutrition Scholars that have efficiently implemented nutrition programs resulting in the improved nutrition situation of infants, young children, and mothers.
As another step to encourage local governments to perform better on nutrition, the Compendium of Action on Nutrition was also launched during this year’s award ceremony. The compendium captures the journey of 11 local government units, which were successful in making their nutrition programs effective especially during the first 1,000 days of the child’s life, which is the most critical time for their physical and mental development.
Unveiled by Secretary Duque and Undersecretary for Local Government Austere A. Panadero, the compendium was developed by NNC in collaboration with Nutrition International and UNICEF Philippines.
The NNC aims to use this publication as a tool to inspire local governments to plan, act and adapt actions and best approaches for successful implementation of the six- year plan of action, maintaining their focus on the first 1,000 days approach.
Focus on the First 1,000 Days
Nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life of a child, from conception to his or her second birthday, directly impacts the child’s ability to grow, and lays the foundation of a healthy and productive future. Articulating this fact, the plan urges local action with a special focus on ensuring services and facilities to the mother and child during this crucial time.
Nutrition International and the Philippine Government Working Together
The “First 1,000 Days” approach ( FIKD) is also seen as crucial in achieving the second Sustainable Development Goal-- to globally end hunger by 2030, and is central to the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement ( SUN).
“The first 1,000 days remains the main strategic thrust for the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition until 2022 and even beyond. It is not just a national ini- tiative but we are hoping to get the buy- in of the local governments. Even before the concept was adopted globally at this scale, the seeds had been planted in the Philippines,” said Assistant Secretary of Health and NNC Executive Director Maria- Bernardita Flores.
Given that the Philippines is also a member of the SUN Movement, the Government is being supported in achieving its nutrition targets by various development partners.
Nutrition International, a global organization based in Canada working to deliver proven nutrition interventions, has also partnered with the Philippine Government in this endeavor.
Through the Technical Assistance for Nutrition project-- supported by UK aid from the UK Government-- Nutrition International has provided assistance in the development and operationalization of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition. The organization is further developing replicable models and local initiatives to strengthen the implementation of nutrition programs through the Right Start Initiative, a project supported by the Government of Canada.
Innovations in Programs
While the policy initiatives undertaken within the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition substantially comprehend the need to focus on the first 1,000 days, in order to translate them into action, the role of communities and frontline health workers are also of crucial importance.
Nutrition International is therefore working to make this approach functional up to the Barangay level, by developing a model for effective nutrition programming known as BarangayFIKD.
Under this program, motherto- mother support groups are being developed at the barangay level. These groups serve as a platform to deliver nutrition education and build skills of mothers and pregnant women on the issues related to nutrition during the first 1,000 days. The same platform is also used to distribute iron and folic acid and micronutrient powder supplements, track antenatal health check- ups and promote adoption of appropriate infant and young child feeding practices.
To be implemented in selected barangays across a total 45 municipalities by Nutrition International, the initiative will build capacities of frontline health workers to deliver on “First 1,000 days” services and promote critical nutrition interventions at the barangay and municipality level.
With a policy road map in place, provincial and regional nutrition plans underway and innovative programming focused on “First 1,000 Days” designed, the Philippines is on its way to achieving its national nutrition outcomes and fulfill its objective to leave none behind.