In its commitment to continually assist the City/District Nutrition Program Coordinators (C/DNPCs) of Metro Manila Association in their Online IYCF Counseling Project, the National Nutrition Council-NCR (NNC-NCR) conducted a 2-day virtual Refresher Course on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) for the NCR Breastfeeding Friends (BFFs) on March 30-31, 2021.

The activity was attended by thirty-three (33) NCR BFFs from the 17 cities and municipality in Metro Manila except Marikina and Quezon City.

The online IYCF counseling project was put up by the Association on April 8, 2020 to help mothers in feeding their infants and young children the right way amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of the Association who are registered Nutritionist-Dietitians trained on IYCF call themselves NCR BFFs. They provide free online counseling to mothers/caregivers who are having problems related to breastfeeding and complementary feeding.

Topics discussed during the 2-day refresher course were: 1) Importance of the Health and Nutrition of the Mother and Child in the First 1000 Days; 2) Recommended Breastfeeding Practices; 3) Breastfeeding and COVID-19; 4) Recommended Complementary Practices; and 5) IYCF in the Context of HIV and other infectious diseases. These topics were ably discussed by Mandaluyong City Medical IYCF Coordinator Dr. Shari Sabalvaro and NNC-NCR Nutrition Officer III Emerenciana Francia. Dr. Sabalvaro is also one of the medical consultants of the NCR BFF Online Counseling Project.

In her message, NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo hopes that the NCR BFFs will continue to become instruments in promoting good nutrition for infants and young children through breastfeeding and proper complementary feeding. “Ngayong pandemic ay napakahalaga po ng ginagawa ninyong serbisyo sa ating mga nanay na nagrereach out sa atin through this online IYCF counseling,” RNPC Federizo said.

“Kaya sana po ay patuloy po ninyong isulong ang IYCF lalo na sa panahon ng pandemya. Sana po ay patuloy natin na pagtulungan na makabigay ng serbisyo sa mga nanay at mga bata para maiwasan natin ang malnutrition,” RNPC Federizo added.

C/DNPC Association President, Ms. Joann Espiritu, in her closing message, encouraged the NCR BFFs to use the learnings from this 2-day refresher course to continue helping mothers in their breastfeeding journey and in giving timely, adequate, safe, and appropriate foods for their young children.

“Gamitin nating inspirasyon ang mga mothers na nacounsel natin na lubos na napapasalamat sa atin upang patuloy tayo na maging committed sa ating responsibility bilang isang BFF,” President Espiritu said.

The NCR BFFs responded affirmatively to this call to action. They will continue to give free online counseling and assist more mothers in their IYCF journey to prevent stunting and other forms of malnutrition. NNC-NCR, on the other hand, will remain steadfast in its commitment to assist them in this project.

Written by: NOII Theresa A. Rivas and NPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo