3 towns ready for childhood care program

CEBU, Philippines - At least three municipalities in Cebu are now ready to fully implement the Early Childhood Care and Development in the First 1000 Days (ECCD-F1K) program after completing the social preparation and other introductory activities.

Preparatory activities include the advocacy meetings with the local chief executives, meetings with local implementers, signing of the memorandum of agreements, local nutrition planning workshops, preparation and approval of the work and financial plans, consultation-dialogues with local finance committees and other related activities.

The municipalities that have completed the requisites are Santa Fe, Dalaguete, and Tuburan.

 National Nutrition Council 7 Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Dr. Parolita A. Mission and F1K Provincial Coordinator Retz Pol O. Pacalioga turned over on March 31 the program fund to the municipality of Santa Fe. The turnover for Dalaguete will be held today while on April 6 in Tuburan.

Each municipality will receive funds from the NNC as support for the components on nutrition education, home and community food production, supportive supervision and fund assistance for administrative support.

ECCD-F1K is a program that aims to ensure the total development of the child through the delivery of key health, nutrition, early education, and social services in the continuum of care from pregnancy to the first two years of life.

Each municipal and barangay nutrition committees vow to strengthen its delivery of basic services including those on health, agriculture, social services and those specified in the F1K Program such as conduct of growth monitoring, mothers’ classes, nutrition education and nutrition counseling. (FREEMAN)