VP Robredo vows support to children's first 1,000 days program

PALO, Leyte, Sept. 20 (PNA) -– Alarmed by the high prevalence of stunted Filipino children, Vice President Leni Robredo vowed to work on stepping up government’s nutrition program during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life – from conception to two years old.

Speaking to participants of the 38th National Social Action General Assembly (NASAGA) on Tuesday here, Robredo said proper nutrition to both mothers and infants is one of the priorities of the Office of the Vice President.

“We’re also looking at proper nutrition because healthy mothers give birth to healthy babies. We want to see infants amply nurtured by supporting the first 1,000 days. If they do not receive the right amount of care and nutrition, they are likely to be stunted,” Robredo said in her keynote speech.

She revealed that 33.6 percent or 3.5 million Filipino children are suffering from stunting or being short for their age.

“We have to support the first 1,000 days since it is too late to start feeding right food when they are in school. The effect of stunting after the three years of life is already irreversible. Imagine the quality of life ahead... All they can look forward to are years of limited potential or limited opportunity to rise above poverty,” Robredo added.

The vice president emphasized proper nutrition when he spoke about “prospect and possibilities for church, state, and civil society organizations sustained partnership in the context of social justice and participatory governance.”

The critical period are 270 days from conception until birth, 180 days from birth to six months, and 550 days before the child’s second birthday.

The first 1,000 days has been called the “golden window of opportunity” for building the foundation for the child’s ability to grow, learn and thrive.

NASAGA is a gathering of the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines together with its local counterparts in the different dioceses all over the country.

This year’s NASAGA scheduled on Sept. 19 to 22, is hosted by the Archdiocese of Palo in Leyte led by Archbishop John Du.

The NASAGA is the biennial gathering organized of all the social action workers of the Catholic Church from the national level down to the different diocesan social action centers and commissions. (PNA)
LAP/SQM