The project will provide MNCH and nutrition services to over 200 people in Cebu.
The project will provide MNCH and nutrition services to over 200 people in Cebu.

Since 2013, in the wake of typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), the foundation France-Philippines United Action (FPUA) has been committed to improve the livelihoods of communities living in northern-Cebu province. As it expands its programmatic reach to strengthen local access to essential services such as primary health care, FPUA turned to Nutriset to partner in its “Safe motherhood caravan and supplementary feeding” project.

Designed with inputs from the communities and local authorities, the project articulates around two components that will aim at providing maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) and nutrition services to over 200 individuals living in Cebu’s Bogo City and Cayang barangays.*

The first component will consist of standard mobile MNCH services, with a focus on pregnant and breastfeeding women, whilst activities of the second component of the project will contribute to reducing the prevalence of under-nutrition amongst children under 5 years old from the targeted locations.
Under the supervision of the local Nutrition Council, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and community health workers, children identified as stunted will receive dedicated nutritional care. Deworming and provision of vitamin A, together with a course of lipid-based nutrient supplement, will be part of the interventions. The project has solicited Nutriset to use the Enov® products for this purpose.

The “Safe motherhood caravan and supplementary feeding” project will also cater for lunch-time feeding sessions for children and parents. This key activity will demonstrate good practices for meal preparation, cooking and food habits related to child development. It is essential to ensure that the community is left with that knowledge before completion of the project.

Set to start in September 2019, for a duration of 120 days, the project gathers multiple partners around FPUA, acting as the project manager. Field operations and coordination will be implemented by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) foundation. For the nutrition-related component, technical support will be provided by the Nutrition Center of the Philippines (NCP).

 

* A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward.

The project, although small in scale and implemented at a barangay level, directly contributes to national development goals, in line with the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act”, commonly known as the First 1,000 Days bill, and the Government’s commitment and plan of action for nutrition (PPAN 2017-2020).

But essentially, this project responds to essential unmet needs of children, mothers and families whose livelihood has been deeply affected following typhoon Yolanda. Years after the disaster, as hope is restored, access to MNCH services and nutrition-sensitive interventions is key to build a healthy and resilient future for the people of barangay Cayang, Bogo City, Cebu.


About France - Philippines United Action (FPUA)
France - Philippines United Action (FPUA) is the Foundation of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines. FPUA’s mission is to allow underprivileged and vulnerable Filipino populations to become economically sustainable and resilient to natural disasters and effects of climate change. www.fpua.org.ph

About Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)
Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) is a private and non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting business sector commitment to social development. Its guiding principle is “Helping People Help Themselves.” Rising above traditional welfare approaches, PBSP promotes the philosophy of efficiency, self-help and participation in improving the quality of life of the underprivileged. www.pbsp.org.ph

About the Nutrition Center of the Philippines (NCP)
The Nutrition Center of the Philippines (NCP)is a non-profit organization established in 1974 to help address malnutrition in the Philippines.  For the past 41 years it has played a critical role in developing and implementing policy-shaping nutrition interventions, through core partnerships and the community. www.ncp.org.ph

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