Bais CNPC Ramon Anton M. Valencia and NO II Kristal Katrina Bacay reorients parents and program beneficiaries as part of the preparation for the resumption of TK DSP Phase 3 in the city.
Bais City – The National Nutrition Council Region VII in partnership with Pamplona and Bais City both of Negros Oriental resumed the conduct of the Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program (TK DSP) Phase 3 early this year. To recall, the Phase 3 and Phase 4 of TKDSP which was simultaneously launched on 16 February 2023, has been halted due to the unavailability of food commodities. The resumption of the program was warmly welcomed by the parents of the beneficiaries.
TK DSP is a program that aims to improve the quality and quantity of food and nutrient intakes of beneficiaries by providing nutritious food commodities to pregnant women for 90 days and to children 6-23 months old for 180 days. Priority beneficiaries of the program are nutritionally at-risk or undernourished pregnant mothers and children 6-23 months old. It also ensures the delivery of complementary early childhood care and development (ECCD) services in the first 1000 days pursuant to RA 11148 or the Kalusugan ng Mag-Nanay Act.
As part of the preparation for the resumption of program implementation, the local nutrition committees were reoriented on the program objectives, roles of parties, scheme of feeding, commodities to use, complementary activities and other relevant information to ensure the success of the program. The program beneficiaries were also reviewed on their tasks and responsibilities and ways to feed their children using the commodities provided by NNC. They were also reminded to participate in the complementary activities initiated by their Barangay Nutrition Committees (BNC).
NO II Kristal Katrina Bacay who was present during one of the reorientation sessions, took the opportunity to gather feedback from parents of children enrolled in the program. Majority of the parents expressed their gratitude of being part of the program as it has helped their children improve their weights. “Abtik na kaayo akong anak Mam kon itande sa iyang maguwang”, expressed by one of the mothers interviewed. They also collectively shared that they participated in the activities conducted by the BNC such as growth monitoring, nutrition education activities, and counselling on the best soil to use in the seeds provided by the City Agriculture Office.
In Negros Oriental, TKDSP covered 120 children aged 6-23 months old each from the municipality of Pamplona and the city of Bais. The enrolled children were provided with food commodities good for 180 days as supplement to their regular meals. The food is given at 10:00 in the morning and 3:00 in the afternoon everyday with allocation distributed for the weekend. Along with the dietary supplementation is the provision of complimentary activities such as health and nutrition education and teaching the household on food security with the available resources in the community.
With the aligned efforts of the local, provincial, regional, and national government, these minor steps would help accomplish the goal of providing quality nutrition services to the constituents and contribute to achieving Nutrisyong sapat, para sa lahat.