Post to feed
First 1K Days Crucial to Child’s Health
2014-07-30 
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MOTHERLY TALKS
A barangay population manager discusses some pointers in reproductive health and child care to a mother in Brgy. Malanday, January 2014 as part of the Alagang Valenzuelano Barangay Based Feeding and Family Planning Program. The city governemnt is a staunch advocate of exclusive breastfeeding for babies. |
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MEAL TIME
A child awaits for cue as she holds her lunchbox provided by the city government's Chikiting Food Patrol supplementary feeding program at Punturin 2 Day Care Center, July 2014. |
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COMMITMENT
A bottle-fed baby holds on to her mother as the latter fills out form in Lingahan, Brgy. Malanday where the city government is holding a caravan activity for its Barangay-based Feeding and Family Planning Program, January 2014. Valenzuela City is a staunch supporter of breastfeeding for babies. |
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PANDORA'S BOX
Valenzuela City launches the Barangay-based Feeding Program , February 2014 that aims to elevate 3,538 children recipients from malnutrition. The program features lunchboxes that contain nutritious ready-to-cook food enough to feed a child for two weeks. For three years, parents of beneficiaries will have to bring the lunchboxes with them to barangay health stations for replenishment. The city government is aiming for “zero malnourished children” in 2016. |
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MOTHER'S WEAPON
Widely cultivated malunggay (Moringa oleifera) is one of the many potent ingredient for a mother's fight against malnutrition for her children. A Wikipedia article says 'the leaves are the most nutritious part of the plant, being a significant source of B vitamins, vitamin C, provitamin A as beta-carotene, vitamin K, manganese and protein, among other essential nutrients.' |
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MILK REVOLUTION
Two mothers nurse their babies at the lactation room of Valenzuela City Hall, July 2012. The city government, though Ordinance No. 40, series of 2011, otherwise known as 'An Ordinance Promoting and Protecting Breastfeeding Program and Child Nutrition in the City of Valenzuela,' is a staunch supporting of breastfeeding for babies. |
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Caption 
Good nutrition starts in the womb.
That is why the Valenzuela City Health Office (CHO) has launched an information campaign on good nutrition aimed at pregnant mothers and mothers of newborn infants.
Launched on July 31 during a Nutrition Month program at the city hall, the information campaign First 1,000 Days promotes intake of micronutrients and exclusive breastfeeding during the infant’s first 1,000 days, which consists of the nine months in the womb and the first two years since birth.
The campaign also supports the Millennium Development Goal 4 which aims to reduce child mortality. In the Philippines, the reduction in child mortality is measured in terms of the following indicators: (1) under-five mortality rate, (2) infant mortality rate, and (3) proportion of 1-year old immunized against measles.
CHO nutritionists say that if a mother fails to receive the right nutrients during pregnancy and the baby becomes undernourished during the first two years, the baby may later contract health problems which adverse effects may last for life.
Between the baby’s birth and six months, a woman should do exclusive breastfeeding, or feed her baby nothing but breastmilk and, if any, the medicines prescribed by the doctor.
“Breastmilk contains all the nutrients a baby needs to grow healthy, not to mention it’s free,” said Elizabeth Provido, CHO nutritionist.
Provido added that mothers who breastfeed exclusively are less prone to diseases like breast and cervical cancers.
To stimulate the breasts to produce more milk, Provido advises mother to persistently breastfeed, especially at night.
City Nutrition Office OIC Dr. Bernadette Bordador said a child who is undernourished during her first two years is likely to have a low intelligent quotient score. “If the baby has low weight at birth, she may lose five IQ points,” she said.
“If she is low on iodine during her first two years, she might lose 10-15 IQ points; if low on iron, 25 IQ points,” Dr. Bordador added.
The Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) recommends 90 micrograms of iodine daily for the newborn and those aged three years and below. For iron, the agency prescribes 0.38 mg daily for the newborn and those below six months; 10 mg for six months and less than one year; and 8 mg for ages one to three.
To help families provide their children under the age of five with good nutrition, the city government runs the Barangay-Based Feeding Program (BBFP). More than 3,500 underweight children from the ages six months through five years enrolled in the program are supplied every two weeks with dry ready-to-cook food. The program would last for three years.
The BBFP is the one of the three feeding programs in the city today. The Supplementary Feeding Program caters to all day care children, while the K-to-6 Citywide Feeding Program serves underweight students in kindergarten through grade six.
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