Caloocan seeks holistic health care in kids’ first 1,000 days

To reduce cases of child deaths and malnutrition in Caloocan City, a councilor has drafted a proposed ordinance to ensure holistic health care for kids up to 2 years old.

Councilor Aurora Henson Jr. referred to the first 1,000 days of a child’s life as a “critical window of opportunity to prevent malnutrition and its lifelong consequences.”

Under the ordinance she sponsored, a “First 1,000 Days” coordinator would be assigned at all 44 health centers covering the city’s 188 barangays. Barangay nutrition scholars would also be appointed and tasked to identify the health problems in their areas as well as implement intervention programs.

In addition, social welfare support, supplementary food and access to nutritional food will be provided for mothers who are poor, still in their teens or suffering from postpartum depression.

The proposed ordinance also mandates that the family of the indigent mother and her baby will be provided with livelihood assistance to support the newborn’s needs.

Enacted on June 14, the measure is still awaiting the signature of city councilors. Caloocan is the third city in the country to come up with its own version of Republic Act No. 11148 or the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-nanay Act.”