Faster Track to Healthier Families: Learn All About ZFF’s Family Stunting Reduction Program (FaStR)

In the ongoing pursuit of healthier communities across the Philippines, the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) has been at the forefront through its Family Stunting Reduction (FaStR) Program. This family-centered initiative is designed to uplift communities by enhancing health and nutrition practices, particularly among F1KD (First 1,000 Days) Families to combat stunting and promote overall well-being.

FaStR is built upon a comprehensive framework encompassing four main components tailored to the unique needs of F1KD Families:

1. Educating Families on Health and Nutrition: Families receive vital information on critical health and nutrition practices, covering areas such as Ante-natal Care, Exclusive Breastfeeding, Complementary Feeding, Micronutrient Supplementation, Immunization, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, and Accessing Regular Health and Nutrition Services.

2. Adopting Family Nutrition Tools: Capacitating families to use essential tools like Family MUAC (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference) Tapes for children and pregnant/lactating women, along with the FaStR Chart.

3. Strengthening Family Food Security: Providing families with options and referring them to the current food access strategy of the Local Government Units (LGUs).

4. Tracking of F1KD Families: Regularly identifying and tracking F1KD Families to ensure their consistent access to health and nutrition services.

By focusing on families with pregnant mothers and young children, the program aims to impart essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for preventing stunting and improving overall nutrition outcomes. FaStR goes beyond traditional health programs by placing the community at the center of change. The program recognizes the social capital and familiarity of local facilitators, emphasizing the importance of involving families in their health journey actively. 

For its pilot implementation across six municipalities in Samar (Tarangnan and Pagsanghan), Northern Samar (Bobon and Gamay), and Basilan (Tipo-tipo and Sumisip), FaStR aims to reach 1,060 households. Trained facilitators, including Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and Barangay Health Workers (BHW), who all play a crucial role in implementing the FaStR Family Module. Mayors and local leaders, including Mayor Danilo Tan of Tarangnan, Mayor Sed Hendrix Tan of Pagsanghan, Mayor Raquel Capoquian of Gamay, Mayor Reny Celespara of Bobon, Mayor Arcam Istarul of Tipo-tipo, and Mayor Jul-Adnan Hataman of Sumisip, have expressed their support and commitment to the program.

In championing the cause of community health, ZFF’s FaStR Program emerges as a driver of positive change. Through its emphasis on community engagement, strategic tool provision, and collaborative efforts with local leaders, FaStR is not just a program but a transformative force for healthier communities. With every family reached, every commitment made, and every insight gained, FaStR inspires hope and resilience, leaving a mark on the journey towards lasting health and prosperity.