PALO, Leyte – With the impending implementation of Tutok Kainan: Dietary Supplementation Program in selected municipalities of four (4) provinces in Eastern Visayas, NNC 8 officials and Provincial Nutrition Focal Points meet again with DAR 8 personnel in charge of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs).The ARBOs are community-based organizations being managed by groups of farmers, fisher folks and similar poor and disadvantage people.
They are being supervised and supported by the DAR in terms of technical assistance and micro financing towards a sustainable agriculture practices.
To this date, these ARBOs are being tapped by the National Nutrition Council to supply basic food commodities in the later’s dietary supplementation program dubbed “Tutok Kainan” for nutritionally at risk pregnant women and 6-23 months old children.
In Eastern Visayas at least 54 municipalities are being targeted with the Tutok Kainan among 6-23 months old children. These target municipalities include 30 from Leyte, 11 from Samar, 6 from Eastern Samar and 7 from Northern Samar.
The feeding program aims to target at least 3,976 6-23 months old children in the above selected municipalities of the targeted 4 provinces.
The Tutok Kainan will not be a stand alone program but will be a jumpstart of other nutrition sensitive interventions such home-backyard/community gardening among target households with malnourished children, livelihood activities, water sanitation and hygiene nutrition education classes and others.
The dietary supplementation program will not only benefit the targeted 6-23 months old but also to generate income among the communities organized poor farmers and fisherfolk.
Meanwhile, both agencies ironed out some issues concerning the partnerships to ease the program implementation. Said agencies hope to finalize the partnerships in the next few days. #NPC-CPD