Breastfeeding TSEK

On February 23, 2011, the Department of Health (DOH) launched the exclusive
breastfeeding campaign dubbed Breastfeeding TSEK: (Tama, Sapat, Eksklusibo). The primary
target of this campaign is the new and expectant mothers in urban areas.
This campaign encourages mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies from birth up to
6 months. Exclusive breastfeeding means that for the first six months from birth, nothing
except breast milk will be given to babies.
Moreover, the campaign aims to establish a supportive community, as well as to
promote public consciousness on the health benefits of breastfeeding. Among the many health
benefits of breastfeeding are lower risk of diarrhea, pneumonia, and chronic illnesses.

Food Fortification Program
Objectives:
1. To provide the basis for the need for a food fortification program in the Philippines: The
Micronutrient Malnutrition Problem
2. To discuss various types of food fortification strategies
3. To provide an update on the current situation of food fortification in the Philippines

Fortification as defined by Codex Alimentarius
the addition of one or more essential nutrients to food, whether or not it is normally
contained in the food, for the purpose of preventing or correcting a demonstrated deficiencyof
one or more nutrients in the population or specific population groups

Policy on Food Fortification

ASIN LAW
Republic Act 8172, An Act Promoting Salt Iodization Nationwide and for other purposes,
Signed into law on Dec. 20, 1995

Food Fortification Law
Republic Act 8976, An Act Establishing the Philippine Food Fortification Program and for other
purposes mandating fortification of flour, oil and sugar with Vitamin A and flour and rice with
iron by November 7, 2004 and promoting voluntary fortification through the SPSP, Signed into
law on November 7, 2000.

Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYFC)
A global strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) was issued jointly by the
World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) in 2002, to
reverse the disturbing trends in infant and young child feeding practices. This global strategy
was endorsed by the 55th World Health Assembly in May 2002 and by the UNICEF Executive
Board in September 2002 respectively.
In 2004, infant and young child feeding practices were assessed using the WHO
assessment protocol and rated poor to fair. Findings showed four out of ten newborns were
initiated to breastfeeding within an hour after birth, three out of ten infants less than six
months were exclusively breastfed and the median duration of breastfeeding was only thirteen
months. The complementary feeding indicator was also rated as poor since only 57.9 percent of
6-9 months children received complementary foods while continuing to breastfed. The
assessment also found out that complementary foods were introduced too early, at the age of
less than two months. These poor practices needed urgent action and aggressive sustained
interventions.
To address these problems on infant and young child feeding practices, the first National
IYCF Plan of Action was formulated. It aimed to improve the nutritional status and health of
children especially the under-three and consequently reduce infant and under-five mortality.
Specifically, its objectives were to improve, protect and promote infant and young child feeding
practices, increase political commitment at all levels, provide a supportive environment and
ensure its sustainability.

Nutrition Month
The NM celebration is celebrated every July (Section 7 of the Presidential Decree No.
491 or the Nutrition Act of the Philippines, 25 June 1974) to build awareness on nutrition along
a chosen theme with their respective target groups. The National Nutrition Council together
with local government units are mandated to coordinate its celebration nationwide. The
celebration of NM is now on its 33rd year.
For 2007, NM is focused on adolescents (10-19 years) with the theme, Healthy
lifestyle ng kabataan, landas sa kinabukasan! The theme focuses on the nutrition and health
needs of Filipino adolescents particularly on the consumption of nutritious food to prepare
them for adulthood and the practice of healthy lifestyle to stay fit and healthy.

Nutriskwela Community Radio
The Nutriskwela Community Radio Network Program of the National Nutrition Council
was born of a need for a long-term and cost-efficient strategy to address the problem of hunger
and malnutrition in the Philippines through the use of radio, the most available form of mass
media.
The Nutriskwela Community Radio Network Program involves the setting up of non-
profit, non-partisan community radio stations and the training of broadcast personnel in areas
of the country with high malnutrition prevalence and which do not have easy access to
broadcast media.
Nutriskwela Community Radio aims to empower the community through the
dissemination of correct, relevant and up-to-date nutrition and health information, as well as
educational and developmental information from all relevant sectors of the community,
government agencies, and non-government organizations.

Promote Good Nutrition Program
The Promote Good Nutrition component of Accelerated Hunger-Mitigation Program (AHMP)
aims to improve the nutrition knowledge, attitudes and practices of families to increase
demand for adequate, nutritious and safe food.
What are the objectives of PGN?
Increase the number of infants 0-6 months who are exclusively breastfed;
Reduce the number of infants receiving food and drink other than breastmilk;
Increase the number of infants 6-12 months old who are given calorie and nutrient-
dense complementary foods; and
Increase the number of families who improved diets in terms of quality and quantity
and involved in food production activities.
Key messages to be promoted:
For Primary Targets (e.g. pregnant women and mothers of 0-2 years old children) to
practice proper infant and young child feeding (IYCF)
For the general population, to practice the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos

Barangay Nutrition Scholar(BNS) Program
The Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) Program is a human resource development strategy of
the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition, which involves the recruitment, training, deployment
and supervision of volunteer workers or barangay nutrition scholars (BNS). Presidential Decree
No. 1569 mandated the deployment of one BNS in every barangay in the country to monitor
the nutritional status of children and/or link communities with nutrition and related service
providers. PD 1569 also mandated the NNC to administer the program in cooperation with local
government units.

Qualifications of a Barangay Nutrition Scholar
A BNS is a trained community worker who links the community with service providers, with the
following qualifications:
bonafide resident of the barangay for at least four years and can speak the local
language well;
possess leadership potentials as evidenced by membership and leadership in
community organizations;
willing to serve the barangay, part-time or full-time for at least one year;
at least elementary graduate but preferably has reached high school level;
physically and mentally fit;
more than 18 years old, but younger than 60 years old.
Basic Tasks
1. caring for the malnourished . . . The BNS locates and identifies malnourished children
through a community survey. This survey involves weighing all preschoolers and
interviewing mothers to determine how the child is cared for, and the resources
available in the family for their participation in nutrition and related interventions.
2. mobilizing the community . . . The BNS also moves the community to organize into
networks of 20-25 households, or into community-based organizations working for the
improvement of their nutrition situation.
3. linkage-building . . . In the presence of other barangay-based development workers,
the BNS may not necessarily deliver direct nutrition services to the community but serve
as linkage-builder, to ensure that members of the community, especially those with
underweight children, avail of nutrition and related services. The BNS must be aware of
the services available and of those who need these services, and establish a system
through which those needing certain services are referred to the appropriate service
provider.
4. other forms of assistance . . . The BNS assists in delivering nutrition and related services
which include:
a. Organizing mothers class or community nutrition education
b. Providing nutrition counseling services, especially on exclusive breastfeeding and
appropriate complementary feeding, through home visits
c. Managing community-based feeding programs under the supervision of a
nutritionist-dietitian;
d. Distributing seeds, seedlings, and small animals from the local agriculture office
and other government organizations and nongovernment organizations to
promote home or community food gardens; and
e. Informing the community on scheduled immunization and other health activities
but always together with the local midwife, agriculture officer, social welfare
officer, and other workers.
5. keeping records . . . To help other barangay workers and the local officials, the BNS
keeps a record of the results of the regular weighing as well as records on the nutrition
and health profile of families in the barangay. The BNS also formulates a BNS Action
Plan as guide in managing the different tasks assigned to him/her. The BNS also
prepares a record of monthly accomplishments to monitor his or her performance in
relation to the action plan. The record helps identify adjustments in the plan of action
to meet targets set. The BNS also keeps track of his or her daily activities through a
diary. The diary should list not only the BNSs activities but also observations and
insights as may be appropriate.


Operation Timbang Plus
Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus is the annual weighing of all preschoolers 0-71 months
old or below six years old in a community to identify and locate the malnourished children.
Data generated through OPT Plus are used for local nutrition action planning, particularly in
quantifying the number of malnourished and identifying who will be given priority
interventions in the community. Moreover, results of OPT Plus provide information on the
nutritional status of the preschoolers and the community in general, thus, providing
information on the effectiveness of the local nutrition program.
Annually, the National Nutrition Council processes OPT Plus results and generates a list
of nutritionally-at-risk cities/municipalities which are disseminated to government and non-
government organizations so that these areas are given priority attention in nutrition
programming planning and intervention.

Target
The most recent population census of the barangay is used in determining total number
of preschoolers to be weighed. If census data are not available, the total population of the
barangay is multiplied by 16.2% to arrive at the estimated number of preschoolers aged 0-71
months to be weighed.
The OPT Plus Team consists of the Rural Health Midwife, BNS and other members of the
Barangay Council (i.e. Committee Chair on Health and Nutrition, Sangguniang
Kabataan Chairperson), the BHWs, and Day Care Worker (DCW). The team may be assisted by
the purok or mother leaders, other community leaders or representatives from civic
organizations.

References:
http://www.doh.gov.ph/content/breastfeeding-tsek.html
http://www.doh.gov.ph/content/food-fortification-program.html
http://www.doh.gov.ph/node/375.html
http://www.nnc.gov.ph/plans-and-programs/nutrition-month
http://www.nnc.gov.ph/plans-and-programs/nutriskwela-community-radio/item/1403-
nutriskwela-community-radio
http://www.nnc.gov.ph/plans-and-programs/pgn
http://www.nnc.gov.ph/plans-and-programs/bns
http://www.nnc.gov.ph/plans-and-programs/philippine-food-and-nutrition-surveillance-
system/operation-timbang-plus