A Family-First Approach: Strengthening Nutrition in Eastern Visayas
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Since 2025, the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) has partnered with the Department of Health (DOH)-Eastern Visayas to advance Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) for nutrition under the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project. Together, they are scaling a family-centered strategy to combat stunting across the region: the Pook Malusog Family Stunting Reduction Program (FaStR).
ZFF’s FaStR tackles stunting, a critical health issue affecting 1 in 4 children in the Philippines (2023 Expanded National Nutrition Survey). The program empowers families with a direct, family-centered approach during the critical first 1,000 days (F1KD) of a child’s life. It combines family education, support for food security, and consistent monitoring by local health workers to ensure children receive the proper nutrition they need to grow and thrive.
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From March 17 to 19, 2026, ZFF successfully conducted refresher and rollout training for the program in the municipalities of San Jose de Buan (Samar), Lope de Vega, and Mapanas (Northern Samar). The training equipped 31 Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) and Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) across the three municipalities with the skills to implement the program.
DOH-Eastern Visayas and the Provincial Nutrition Action Offices of Samar and Northern Samar provided strong support, making this milestone possible.
Following the refresher sessions, participants applied their training through community simulations and feedback activities. They visited selected F1KD families and introduced them to the program’s family modules. These hands-on activities reinforced learning and ensured the field workers are ready for implementation.
The Local Government Units (LGUs) now recognize this family-first approach as a key intervention to improve health and nutrition behaviors, directly contributing to regional efforts to reduce stunting. To conclude the activity, ZFF supported the LGUs in identifying clear next steps for rolling out the program to target households and expanding coverage to additional barangays.
Banner photo: Introduction of the FaStR chart to a family