Empowering Barangays and Families for Better Nutrition: Learnings from Pook Malusog Municipal Sharings

Select municipalities representing Basilan, Samar, Northern Samar, Sarangani and Zamboanga del Norte presented their innovative strategies focused on collaboration, empowerment, and sustainability. The Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) held the first Pook Malusog Community of Practice (CoP) in Nutrition last June 26, 2024, themed “Building One Community for Nutrition”.

Tipo-Tipo, Basilan: Collaborative Healthcare and Empowerment

Community Coordination and Co-ownership. Dr. Nur Khan Istarul explained their approach to healthcare. They believe in working closely with barangay officials, especially the barangay captain, to understand and meet the community’s specific needs. This helps them address the unique challenges of coastal, upland, and midland areas.

Empowering Barangay Health Workers (BHWs).  By collaborating with barangays, they ensure that every sitio has a BHW. They increased the number of BHWs from 70 in 2023 to 135 in 2024. Additionally, they secured more support, raising BHWs’ monthly stipend from 2,000 to 4,000 pesos.

Skill Training and Cooperatives. They plan to train BHWs in additional skills like baking and sewing through TESDA, providing them with extra income opportunities. They also aim to set up a cooperative for malnourished families, buying their agricultural produce to ensure a steady supply of fresh, nutritious food.

Partnerships for Clean Water. Partnering with other NGOs, like the Manila Water Foundation, has helped them improve access to clean water, which is essential for good nutrition.

Pagsanghan, Samar: Comprehensive Early Childhood Nutrition Programs

Stunting Rehabilitation Project. Jovelle Royandoyan shared their approach to early childhood nutrition. They run the Hangkop stunting rehabilitation project, which provides resources like rice and toys to undernourished children through a voucher system.

Dietary Supplementation Program. Another program, Sakto ngan Epektibo nga Dietary (SED) Supplementation Program, ensures children receive essential dietary supplements.

Integrated Nutrition Action Program. They also have the Pagsanghan Integrated Nutrition Action Program for the First 1,000 Days of Life, focusing on the critical early childhood development period.

Collaborative Partnerships. By partnering with national government agencies and academic institutions, they ensure a well-rounded approach to tackling childhood malnutrition.

Bobon, Northern Samar: Overcoming Challenges through Community Engagement

Multi-Sectoral Approach. Natividad Lao talked about their progress since joining UNICEF’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program from 2016 to 2019. Initially, nutrition was not a major focus, but the introduction of ZFF’s Municipal Nutrition Governance Program in 2021 changed this. Training sessions stressed the importance of involving the whole community, not just Nutrition Action Officers (NAOs).

Funding and Resource Mobilization. They faced funding challenges in rolling out the program to all barangays, but with help from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), they managed to secure the necessary resources.

Functional Nutrition Councils. Now, all 18 barangays have functional Barangay Nutrition Councils (BNCs) and dedicated nutrition budgets. Community involvement in feeding programs has led to impressive results, with average coverage data reaching 72.1% to 82.1% in 2023.

Kiamba, Sarangani: Community-Driven Development and Sustainability

Community Empowerment. Ronilyne Moneva presented the Kiamba Cares A+++ project, which renewed their focus on nutrition. They prioritize community-driven development, creating BNCs through capacity-building workshops on financial management, Philippines Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (PIMAM) program implementation, and integrating local culture.

Indigenous People’s Projects. They also address the unique needs of Indigenous People (IP) communities through specific projects like the IP Barangay Nutrition Gulayan Projects.

Strengthening Nutrition Councils. Strengthening BNCs and forming Municipal Nutrition Action Plans ensures long-term impact.

Partnerships for Resources. Partnerships with organizations like the Seaoil Foundation provide valuable resources for food security and nutrition initiatives.

Brgy. Manil, Leon Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte: Sustaining Nutrition and Health Initiatives

Training and Knowledge Sharing. Melgian Saquilan discussed the steps their barangay has made in improving nutrition and well-being. Training in programs like Barangay Leadership for Nutrition and Development (BL4ND) has equipped them with the knowledge and tools to address nutritional needs, especially for children and pregnant mothers.

Backyard Gardening and Food Security. Despite challenges like El Niño and limited water supply, they remain committed to ensuring access to fresh and nutritious food. They implemented a barangay ordinance promoting backyard gardening, resulting in 90% of households having their own gardens.

Prenatal Care Services. They also provide comprehensive prenatal care services through the Prenatal sa Martes, Pakan on ang Buntis program, offering regular checkups, immunizations, and counseling.

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The stories shared by these municipalities showcase the power of teamwork and innovative thinking in addressing health and nutrition challenges. By empowering community health workers, forming strong partnerships, and implementing sustainable programs, these areas are creating healthier futures for their residents. As they continue their work, the lessons learned and the successes achieved serve as an inspiration for other communities striving to improve their own health and nutrition outcomes.