PALO, Leyte — Implementation of the program meant to ensure proper nourishment within the child’s first 1,000 days of life is now under review in four pilot areas in Leyte province.
A team from the National Nutrition Council (NNC) arrived on Tuesday for the week-long review of the Early Childhood Care and Development First 1,000 Days (ECCD-F1K) program launched in 2016 and fully implemented this year.
“The evaluation and monitoring team wanted to track activities based on work and financial plan, initial impacts of the program, and see the need to replicate or expand the program in other provinces since currently there are only 10 pilot provinces in the country,” said NNC regional program coordinator Catalino Dotollo in an interview Thursday.
In Leyte, the initiative is being carried out in Baybay City, Hilongos, Mahaplag, and Abuyog towns. Among six provinces in Region 8 (Eastern Visayas), only Leyte has pilot areas for this intervention.
Each area got PHP2 million to PHP6 million this year for the program. The allocation varies depending on the number of villages and population.
A big chunk of the budget released directly to local governments under the first tranche was used to set up food gardens, distribution of seeds, and procurement of gardening tools.
The ECCD-F1K covers pregnancy period and the first two years of life of the child or the First 1000 days of life. This period has been called the “golden window of opportunity” during which delivery of health, nutrition, and early learning interventions would result to optimum physical and brain development.
The package includes services on nutrition, health, early learning and social services for pregnant women and children below 2 years old. It will be implemented in 10 priority and poorest provinces in the country.
Key nutrition interventions for the first six months include adequate nutrition and care during pregnancy; support to exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life and giving of complementary food starting six months and continue breastfeeding up to two years and beyond
The program is expected to contribute the reduction of stunting and underweight in the region. Based on the 2017 survey of local government units, 32 percent of children in Eastern Visayas suffered stunted growth while 7 percent of them were severely underweight. (Sarwell Meniano/PNA)
