House OKs bill strengthening health programs for pregnant, lactating women, children

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill which aims to strengthen health and nutrition programs that would address malnutrition and other health issues among pregnant and lactating women and children.

Voting via viva voce, the chamber approved House Bill 5777, which seeks to provide a more comprehensive, sustainable and multi-sectoral approach in addressing health and nutrition and a policy environment conducive to improving nutrition.

The measure also aims to provide mechanisms, strategies and approaches in implementing programs and projects intended to enhance the health nutritional status and alleviate malnutrition and hunger.

It will also strengthen and define the roles of the Department of Health and the National Nutritional Council Governing Board, which act as policy-making bodies on health and nutrition.

Nutritionally at risk individuals, primarily pregnant and lactating pregnant and teenage mothers, women of reproductive age, especially adolescent girls, and children from zero to 24 months old are covered by the provisions of the bill.

People living in disaster-prone and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas will also be prioritized.

Health and nutrition services and intervention for women, infants and young children will be given during the first 270 days (conception and pregnancy – prenatal period, women about to give birth and immediate postpartum period, postpartum and lactating women); 180 days (birth and newborn period, first six months of infancy) and 550 days (infants six months up to two years of age).

Meanwhile, health and nutrition services that will be given to adolescent girls, girls of reproductive age and teenage mothers include age-appropriate vaccines, oral health services and anti-helminthic drug for deworming.

DIWA party-list Representative Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, principal author of the bill, said it is important to maintain the health of the pregnant mother, not only to prevent maternal mortality, but also to prevent infant mortality and guarantee a good nutritional foundation for a healthy child.

“Mothers who do not receive the proper nutrition while pregnant usually give birth to babies who are Small for their Gestational Age or SGA,” she said. —ALG, GMA News