Collaboration is key to combating malnutrition: DSWD
Published May 27, 2023 11:59 am
Collaboration among government and non-government organizations (NGO) is key to combating malnutrition in the country, said Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Secretary Irene Bungay-Dumlao on Saturday, May 27, during the national malnutrition summit held in Manila.
Courtesy of Pixabay
Dumlao highlighted that this issue indeed requires action from multiple sectors of society, and they must work together to establish services that target the root cause of the problem. She also acknowledged the country's huge dilemma with food security and poor food intake, which is why the agency is implementing supplementary projects like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. However, she admitted that this is not enough, so DSWD is continuously forging partnerships with other agencies to respond to this and other social problems.
From left: DILG Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" C\. Abalos\, Jr\.\, DOH Public Health Services Team Assistant Secretary Beverly Lorraine Ho\, DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Bungay\-Dumlao\, and Representative Anthony Rolando Golez Jr\. from Malasakit@Bayanihan Party List during the panel discussion on the 1st 1000 Days National Summit held on Saturday\, May 27\, at the Manila Hotel\. \(Photo courtesy of Arnold Quizol \| Manila Bulletin\)
Aside from hunger, DSWD is also working on addressing teenage pregnancy, which, according to her, is significantly connected with malnutrition. Dumlao also stated that DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian has ordered the streamlining of applications for NGOs and groups that want to join the agency in assisting poor Filipinos. Since the nation's approach centers on the country's poorest of the poor, Dumlao added that agencies and groups providing assistance must also empower their beneficiaries to further uplift their spirits and continue alleviating the status of their lives.
DILG Secretary Abalos and Children's 1st One Thousand Days Coalition Chairman Jose Lina Jr\. shake hands after the photo op with members of the media\. \(Photo courtesy of Arnold Quizol \| Manila Bulletin\)
It is also not just the children with poor nutrition who will suffer from this but also their future children if they are not educated and taught immediately about consequences of this problem. Lina mentioned that among the initial programs that the CFDC is doing is an awareness campaign for women who are of reproductive age and partnering with cooperatives and socio-civic organizations to further disseminate the objectives of the coalition. He also hopes for the coalition to transform into an alliance, as it would strengthen their campaign and programs. "We don't have to reinvent; we just have to implement all those very beautiful ideas that have already been formulated by NGOs and government. We just have to coordinate and consolidate those efforts," he said, referring to the existing malnutrition programs of the government.
Courtesy of Pixabay
Dumlao highlighted that this issue indeed requires action from multiple sectors of society, and they must work together to establish services that target the root cause of the problem. She also acknowledged the country's huge dilemma with food security and poor food intake, which is why the agency is implementing supplementary projects like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. However, she admitted that this is not enough, so DSWD is continuously forging partnerships with other agencies to respond to this and other social problems.
From left: DILG Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" C\. Abalos\, Jr\.\, DOH Public Health Services Team Assistant Secretary Beverly Lorraine Ho\, DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Bungay\-Dumlao\, and Representative Anthony Rolando Golez Jr\. from Malasakit@Bayanihan Party List during the panel discussion on the 1st 1000 Days National Summit held on Saturday\, May 27\, at the Manila Hotel\. \(Photo courtesy of Arnold Quizol \| Manila Bulletin\)
Aside from hunger, DSWD is also working on addressing teenage pregnancy, which, according to her, is significantly connected with malnutrition. Dumlao also stated that DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian has ordered the streamlining of applications for NGOs and groups that want to join the agency in assisting poor Filipinos. Since the nation's approach centers on the country's poorest of the poor, Dumlao added that agencies and groups providing assistance must also empower their beneficiaries to further uplift their spirits and continue alleviating the status of their lives.
Nationwide nutrition intervention program
During the summit, several officials and representatives discussed the growing problem of malnutrition, especially for babies who are in the first 1,000 days of life. This starts from conception until their second birthday.READ:
[Launching of ‘1st 1000 Days National Summit’ at the Manila Hotel gains huge support](https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/27/launching-of-1st-1000-days-national-summit-at-the-manila-hotel-gains-huge-support) Chairman of the newly-formed Children's 1st One Thousand Days Coalition (CFDC), Jose Lina Jr., noted that focusing on giving optimal health to pregnant mothers and their babies is crucial, not just for the latter's brain development and overall health but also for the economy. He cited UNICEF Philippines data, which warns that 95 Filipino children die every day due to malnutrition and that 27 out of 1,000 children do not get past their fifth birthday.
DILG Secretary Abalos and Children's 1st One Thousand Days Coalition Chairman Jose Lina Jr\. shake hands after the photo op with members of the media\. \(Photo courtesy of Arnold Quizol \| Manila Bulletin\)
It is also not just the children with poor nutrition who will suffer from this but also their future children if they are not educated and taught immediately about consequences of this problem. Lina mentioned that among the initial programs that the CFDC is doing is an awareness campaign for women who are of reproductive age and partnering with cooperatives and socio-civic organizations to further disseminate the objectives of the coalition. He also hopes for the coalition to transform into an alliance, as it would strengthen their campaign and programs. "We don't have to reinvent; we just have to implement all those very beautiful ideas that have already been formulated by NGOs and government. We just have to coordinate and consolidate those efforts," he said, referring to the existing malnutrition programs of the government.