Six years ago, the City of Marikina launched its ‘Siksik sa Six’ Project in response to the call of the National Nutrition Council-NCR for the intensive promotion of correct infant and young child feeding practices in the region. Spearheaded by the city’s team of IYCF trainers trained by NNC-NCR, the project aims to increase the percentage of mothers practicing breastfeeding and correct complementary feeding.

According to the city’s IYCF Coordinator and nutritionist-dietitian, Ms. Eileen S. Guevara, “Siksik sa Six is a breastfeeding advocacy with a different twist. More than just a campaign on breastfeeding, it promotes important child health services that should be availed by mothers for their infants and the city health department ensures that these services are made accessible and available to the mothers in all health centers of the city”.

The components of ‘Siksik sa Six’ Project are based on what an infant should have undergone by the time he/she is six months old. These are: (1) exclusively breastfed for six month; (2) has received vaccines for the six immunizable diseases: BCG, Diphtheria, Pertussis Tetanus, Oral Polio Vaccine, and Hepatitis B; (3) has received first dose of Vitamin A; (4) has a normal weight of 6.6 kg; (5) has received his/her first dental check-up; and (6) has started complementary feeding while continuing breastfeeding.

“The term Siksik sa Six means that the six-month old infant has received the optimum nutrition and health interventions needed for good health and a good start to a better future”, Ms. Guevara added.

Now on its 6th year of implementation, the project emphasizes the need for partnership and collaboration of different stakeholders in the promotion of IYCF with its theme, “Nanay Magpasuso Ka, Kampi Tayo!”. At the anniversary program held at the Barangay Jesus dela Peña Covered Court on August 30, 2013, pregnant and lactating mothers from the different barangays were given special treats (free massage, haircut and freebies) after listening to the inspirational messages from key city and barangay officials and representatives from NNC-NCR and USAID who all emphasized the importance of breastfeeding and proper complementary feeding. A ceremonial breaking of infant feeding bottles led by Marikina City Vice-Mayor Jose Fabian I. Cadiz was also done to emphasize the message, “NO to infant milk formula!”.

NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Mila V. Federizo in her message, congratulated the city nutrition committee under the leadership of Mayor Del de Guzman and CNAO Dr. Alberto Herrera for providing continued support to the project and encouraged the mothers to breastfeed their infants since breastfeeding will save their infants from hunger and malnutrition. RNPC Federizo ended her message by telling the mothers, “Mga nanay magpasuso kayo. Ang NNC-NCR ay kakampi ninyo sa pagsusulong ng Breastfeeding TSEK — Tama, Sapat at EKsklusibong pagpapasuso!”.

Kudos to the City of Marikina!