TACLOBAN CITY – The municipal government of Arteche in Eastern Samar province in partnership with Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) will be launching two banner programs targeting infants and their mothers, and school-age children.
Mayor Roland Boei Evardone said that these banner programs are called PROJECT SUStainable-nutrition And Nanay Empowerment or Project SUSAN.e and Lunchbox Library: Healthy Readers On-the-Go!
Project SUSAN.e is a 36-month-long program targeting infants and their mothers aiming to secure their nutritional needs in their first 1,000 days to prevent instances of malnutrition and stunting.
Mayor Evardone said that through this program, they will be providing maternal health support such as check-ups and laboratories, nutrition education, and complementary feeding program for babies from seven months until 2 years of age.
At least 30 mothers who are at their first trimester of their pregnancy will benefit the program and after they give birth, this will be expanded to their babies.
Meanwhile, the Lunchbox Library: Healthy Readers On-the-Go! Program targets 250 school-age children from Kindergarten to Grade 3.
This 20-week program aims to complement child’s in-school literacy development and promote the love of reading, targeting not only students but also members of the community.
It also aims to bring together community partners and education stakeholders to help improve learners’ reading skills in the context of partnerships.
Books and other reading session materials will be provided throughout the five-month implementation of the program.
Reading sessions will be conducted weekly and will be complemented with supplementary feeding every session in partnership with their parents.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
