Korean government and UNICEF launch First 1000 Days Program for vulnerable communities

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Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and UN children’s agency UNICEF, in partnership with the Department of Health and National Nutrition Council, launch an integrated nutrition and health program targeting the first 1,000 days of life to benefit vulnerable children and women in Samar, Northern Samar, and Zamboanga del Norte.

Integrated Nutrition and Health Actions in the First 1,000 Days of Life Program to benefit 40,000 children under-5 and 57,000 pregnant/lactating women in Samar, Northern Samar and Zamboanga del Norte

(L-R) Dr. Gerardo V. Bayugo, DOH Undersecretary of Health; Senator Risa Hontiveros; Ms. Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF Philippines Representative; Ms. Paik Senghwa, Deputy Director KOICA Philippines

“The Korean Government fully supports the Philippine government in its goal of addressing malnutrition and achieving universal healthcare. By giving assistance to this project, the most vulnerable – mothers and children ages 0-5 years old – will be ensured access to vital health and nutrition services which will help them develop fully later in life,” says Ambassador HAN Dong-Man, Korean envoy to the Philippines.

The support from KOICA amounts to US$6 million and targets 19 local government units in three provinces, namely Samar and Northern Samar in Region VIII and Zamboanga Del Norte in Region IX. Expected reach through the initiative will be 12,000 infants 0-5 months old, 36,000 6-23 months old – including children from poor families and children from geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas – and 57,000 pregnant and lactating women. It also aims to improve the LGU’s policy, governance frameworks and service delivery systems and enhance the capacity of 1,370 nutrition and health personnel.

 

“We thank the Korean government for supporting the Filipino child’s right to survive and thrive. Supporting interventions at the local level is important to reach every vulnerable mother and child especially those who do not have access to essential services,” UNICEF Philippines Representative Lotta Sylwander says.

Technical support at the national level is expected to reach an estimated 14 million children under five years of age including acutely malnourished children, premature newborns, an estimated 3.5 million pregnant women, and 3 million lactating women in 17 regions across the country.

The project aims to: a) establish a more responsive enabling policy environment at the national and local level that supports the comprehensive approach to maternal, infant and child nutrition and health in the critical first 1,000 days window; b) strengthen systems for the delivery of quality and comprehensive nutrition and health services for the first 1,000 days provided to women, newborns and children; and c) improve knowledge, attitudes and practices of pregnant women, mothers and caregivers in the 19 project areas on maternal and child nutrition and health.

Under-nutrition in the Philippines remains a serious problem. The damage to health, physical growth and brain development of children affected by chronic under-nutrition—stunting in the first two years—is often irreversible, impairing children for life and leaving them with lower chances of finishing school and becoming highly-productive adults. Stunting, iron and iodine deficiencies impact learning abilities and intelligence of children. Studies show that populations affected by iodine deficiency have 10 - 15 IQ points less than those not affected.

A joint research by UNICEF Philippines and the National Nutrition Council (NNC) revealed that every $1 (P53) invested in interventions to combat child malnutrition and accompanying problems can save around $12 (P639) in foregone earnings or health expenditures – equivalent to a 12:1 benefit-cost ratio.

The Kalusugan and Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act, more commonly known as First 1000 Days Law, was approved by the end of 2018 and heralds the beginning of more concerted efforts by the national and local government, donors, and civil society.

For further information, please contact:

Ms. PAIK Seunghwa, Assistant Country Director, KOICA, Mobile: +63917-800-3058, philippines@koica.go.kr

Ms. Michelle Apostol, MD, Health Specialist, KOICA, Mobile: +63905-462-2356, philippines@koica.go.kr

Ms. Zafrin Chowdhury, Chief of Communication, UNICEF Philippines, Mobile: +63 917 867 8366, zchowdhury@unicef.org

Ms. Marge Francia, Communication Officer, UNICEF Philippines, Mobile: +63 917 858 9447, mfrancia@unicef.org

#IAmYou - Opening Minds, Opening Hearts, An International Leadership Summit in Inclusive Education

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For the first time, educators, legislators, service providers, support groups/associations, international organizations, disabled people organizations, international and local students and parents gather together at the SMX Convention Center Manila on February 22-24, 2017 to set the cornerstone for building an intentional and proactive community for inclusive education. The theme of this event is I Am You – Opening Minds, Opening Hearts: Putting Values into Action.

Given the broad scope of inclusive education that encompasses people with disabilities, indigenous people, Muslims and other marginalized communities, most of the topics and discussion at this February Summit will focus on people with disabilities. The end goal is to build on this Summit, the beginning of a series of conferences, the greater essence of inclusive education – education for all.

Vice President Leni Robredo will grace the event in providing welcome remarks together with Australian Ambassador Amanda Gorely, UNICEF Country Representative Lotta Sylwander and SM Supermalls President Anna Maria Garcia. Senator Bam Aquino and Congressman Alfred Vargas are expected to present the joint bill to serve the people with disabilities worked on by the organizing committee spearheaded by the Fully Abled Nation. They will be joined by Engineer Bien Mateo of SM Cares, Rhodora Palomar-Fresnedi of Unilab Foundation, Carmen Reyes-Zubiaga of the National Council on Disability Affairs and Atty. Adel Tamano to share their programs and messages of inspiration.

Renowned international experts in inclusive education are expected to provide the keynotes at the Summit, namely Professor Tony Booth from the University of Cambridge, celebrated author of the Index for Inclusion (translated into 40 languages), and David Hoff of the Boston based Institute for Community Inclusion.

We also have extraordinary people sharing their overcoming-disability-to succeed success stories - Sarah Jane Dela Rosa, a 22 year old student with cerebral palsy fully included in a regular class; Erick Marco Ramos, the first blind person to qualify for the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program administered by the US Fulbright Commission and currently a faculty member at Philippine Normal University; Dr. Rex Bernardo from the University of Sydney, currently a professor of Mabini Colleges; and Joy Garcia, Chief Executive Officer of Tahanan ng Walang Hagdan. Finally, Mr. Tony Llanes, the blind founder of ATRIEV (Adaptive Technology for the Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of Visually Impaired) will be demonstrating digital resources for the blind.

Schools, both public and private, parents, service providers and support groups will share best practices/perspectives on how inclusion works for their children. They will also be joined by highly respected developmental and behavioral pediatricians namely Dr. Francis Dimalanta and Dr. Stella Manalo and the Harvard graduates from the International Education Policy program.

One of the program highlights will include the showing of the powerfully moving documentary “Yakap”, which follows the lives of three families of children with special needs, produced by Dolores Cheng of the Center of Possibilities. Along with this is the exhibition of #DrawDisability, a global art campaign launched by the United Nations Secretary General’s Global Education First Initiative (GEFI), in partnership with the Global Observatory for Inclusion (GLOBI) and the United Nations Global Education First Initiative Youth Advocacy Group (GEFI-YAG).

The Summit aims to call for a unified response – #YesToInclusion and to spearhead a movement that will advocate for the right of the individual with a disability to be educated along with his/her peers in the regular classroom.

For registrations to the summit and corporate sponsorships, please visit www.theteachersgallery.com,www.iamyouinclusion.net or contact Mai Roble at 0977-8095110 or 0998-554-8522 or 02-352-2675.

About the Organizers: The Summit is co-presented by The Teacher’s Gallery and SMX/SM Cares and is supported in planning by Basic Education Transformation Sector (BEST), the Unilab Project Inclusion, The Asia Foundation/Fully Abled Nation, Best Buddies, Save the Children, ATRIEV, Norfil Foundation, Center for Possibilities Foundation Inc., Leonard Cheshire Disability, CEU Inclusion Program, Reach International, UP College of Education, and the Philippine Association for Teachers Educators (PAFTE).

The main organizer, The Teacher’s Gallery (TTG), is a social enterprise formed out of an advocacy for inclusive education and a drive to empower teachers in their role of nation building. TTG offers transformational educational programs that include Global Study Tours (US, Canada, UK and Southeast Asia) where participants observe several US inclusive classrooms, and engage with their peers. TTG co-founder, Ms. Lilibeth Aristorenas, was inspired to form this organization from the challenges observed at Precious Gem Academy, Another Home to Grow and Creative Learner’s Home, small schools she also co-founded nestled in Fairview, Quezon City, focused on continuously improving their inclusive practice.

The summit is held in partnership with SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility of SM Prime Holdings, Inc., and the SMX Convention Center. SM Cares advocacies include programs on persons with disabilities, senior citizens, children and youth, women and breastfeeding, OFWs (SM Global Pinoy), environment and sustainability and social entrepreneurship. SM Cares’ program on persons with disabilities has instituted key programs to address the needs of PWDs which earned its reputation of being the most PWD-friendly mall in the country.