Free milk fights maternal malnutrition in Los Baños
The estimated national stunting rate stands at 25.2 percent or one in every four children, and 12 percent in Los Baños.
CABINET Secretary Benhur Abalos hands free milk to a beneficiary of the MILK in Los Baños Project during the launching of the campaign to address maternal malnutrition on 6 October.
Photograph courtesy of los baños pio
Civic group Knights of Rizal (KoR) and the governments of Laguna province and Los Baños town have launched a campaign addressing maternal malnutrition by giving free milk and food supplements to expectant mothers and children.
The launching of the Make Intelligent Lots of Kids or MILK in Los Banos Project saw Governor Sol Aragones, Mayor Neil Andrew Nocon, former Health Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa and Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. lead the distribution of free milk, multiple micronutrient supplements and fortified Nutribuns to pregnant and lactating mothers attending the event.
The MILK project involves the collaboration of local governments, national government agencies, and non-government organizations in reaching mothers in need while supporting local dairy farmers and cooperatives by procuring locally produced milk, thereby creating more livelihood opportunities within the community.
The program is anchored in the “First 1,000 Days Law,” supporting the objectives of Republic Act 11148, or the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act” (Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Act), which provides nutritional support to pregnant mothers and her baby up to the child’s second birthday.
Abalos underscored how inadequate nutrition can stunt a child’s brain development and long-term potential.
“How can she breastfeed if the mother herself is hungry? She needs nutrition; she needs food,” the former Mandaluyong City chief executive said during the events.
Herbosa said the estimated national stunting rate stands at 25.2 percent or one in every four children, and 12 percent in Los Baños. He challenged the town to further reduce this figure toward achieving zero stunting rate.
Dr. Joel Tuplano, deputy supreme commander of the KoR, delivered the message of gratitude from the group’s supreme commander, Dr. Emmanuel F. Calairo, who voiced his hope that MILK could be continued and expanded to other areas, including Rizal to help from mothers and children.