Bill ensuring nutrition of mothers, babies to pass before yearend

Sen. Sonny Angara (File photo by GRIC C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The bill seeking to strengthen the mental and nutritional health of pregnant women and children ages 0-2 years old is scheduled to be passed before the year ends.

Senator Sonny Angara, principal author of Senate Bill 1537, known as the Healthy Nanay and Bulilit Act, said on Sunday that the measure includes proper nutrition, protection to diseases, and improved breastfeeding to mothers who just gave birth.

The measure of bill would also focus on proper feeding for newborn babies up to their 1,000th day.

READ: Angara files bill to ensure ‘womb-to-crib’ care for mothers, babies

It aims “to scale up nutrition intervention programs in the first 1,000 days of life, which covers the nine months of pregnancy and a child’s first two years.”

“As we celebrate National Women’s Month, we call for support for the passage of this bill that ultimately aims to improve health and nutrition of mothers and children, reduce malnutrition, and end hunger,” Angara said in a statement.

“Panahon na para ibigay natin sakanila ang wagas na pag-aarugang tulad ng ibinibigay ng isang ina sa kanyang anak,” the senator added.

“Such measure would boost maternal and child health and nutrition that would provide a pathway to good education, decent jobs, and out of poverty. This would lay the proper foundation for the country’s growth and development,” Angara said.

The bill would prioritized poor families residing in “high prevalence of undernutrition,” as identified by the National Household Targeting System. /je