JIABONG, Samar– “Whatever the baby in the womb needs must be provided. If not, the baby could die in the womb,” said Jessica Cabael, 25, a resident of Jiabong, Samar, expecting her fourth child in April while already caring for three young children. The growing family has amplified the financial strain on their modest home.
The family’s meager earnings from selling ‘tahong’ (mussels) barely covered daily expenses as food costs climbed, making healthy meals a seemingly unattainable luxury.
Cabael often worried about her children’s nutrition, never imagining she could provide them with what they needed until the Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program (TKDSP) came to serve as a lifeline.
This vital nutrition support initiative, a collaboration between the National Nutrition Council and the Local Government Unit of Jiabong, aimed to prevent stunting in children under two years.
It focused on enhancing food quality and nutrition intake while improving access to early childhood care and development services for at-risk pregnant women and children aged 6 to 23 months.
For over 90 days, Cabael participated in the program, receiving carefully planned meals with wet and dry feeding options. These included dishes like adobong atay ng manok (chicken liver adobo), kangkong salad (water spinach salad), fortified rice, fried chicken, mongo (mung bean stew) and biscuits – all aligned with the recommended dietary guidelines for pregnant women based on the Pinggang Pinoy model developed by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Marisse A. Ladrera, a registered nurse and municipal nutrition action officer of Jiabong, reported that Cabael and 201 other participants showed health improvements within just 30 days, a progress attributed to regular weight and height monitoring.
The nutritious meals not only sustained Cabael but also supported her unborn baby’s healthy growth, offering not just sustenance but the reassurance of a healthier future for her children.
Barangay nutrition scholars and healthcare workers actively participated by preparing healthy meals and providing support to pregnant women.
“This is the first time I’ve joined a program like this. Even though I already have three children, it’s only now that I’ve been able to avail myself of something like this,” Cabael said. “I’m very thankful because I was included in the Tutok Kainan Program. Thank you very much to the midwives here in the LGU and the mayor.”
As her due date approached, Cabael expressed gratitude for the supportive community around her, who recognized the importance of nutrition. Seeing her children receive better nourishment, she felt empowered as a mother, her heart swelling with pride as she watched them thrive. (AAC, PIA Samar)
