World Vision trains community leaders to become First 1000 Days advocates

Last June, World Vision visited a community in the northern part of Cebu province to train selected community leaders about the importance of nutrition during an infant’s first 1000 days.

The project is officially named as Nutrition Sensitive CoMSCA Program. World Vision promotes proper nutrition feeding and vegetable gardening (Food Always In The House or FAITH) to community savings groups which are already established in the communities. The program is part of the organization’s commitment in the SUN Civil Society Alliance – Philippines which funded the program.

One of its approaches is the Go Baby Go (GBG)where the participants are trained about their roles as caregivers especially to a child’s holistic development during its 0-5 years.

Some of the important topics discussed include Sensitive and Responsive Care-giving, Nurturing Physical Development, Nurturing Cognitive Development, and Community Action Planning for community-level implementation.

The activity is part of World Vision’s aim to uphold well-being of children under its Health and Nutrition ministry.

Strict health protocols were observed during the 2-day activity. The number of participants and facilitators were less than 10. Everyone was also wearing a face mask and observing social distancing. The community is under General Community Quarantine when the activity was conducted.

Few weeks after, the trained health advocates have already started its leg work in promoting health and nutrition via home visitation. The advocates provide counseling to parents using the GBG booklet and other IEC materials and health monitoring tools. Other CoMSCA groups which already resumed its group meetings also shared GBG learning among its members.

Story by Mong Jimenez, Photos by Faith Sy, Michael Manatad, Josephine Solon




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