Bridging the Gap: Supplementary Feeding Program for IP Children in the Province of Apayao, Philippines

Abstract

This study is about the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) for indigenous children implemented by St. Paul University Philippines-Community Development Center Foundation, Inc. (SPUPCDC) in 58 villages in the Municipalities of Calanasan, Kabugao and Sta. Marcela in the Province of Apayao, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Philippines. The SPUPCDCFI was able to serve a total of seven hundred four (704)   children belonging to 0-6 years old.  The Supplementary Feeding Program was carried-out between 102 to 120 days in different child development centers and health centers in the three municipalities. The program was aimed at providing food in addition to the regular meals serve to the identified malnourished children and improving the existing undernutrition and the prevention of undernutrition among the indigenous children in the covered municipalities.  In assessing the growth status of the children beneficiaries, SPUPCDC and the Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (MNAO) utilized the World Health Organization's indices for children which include the weight for age, height for age and weight for height.   Result of the 4 months Supplemental Feeding Program in the three (3) municipalities   showed minimal improvements but significant positive effects on the weight and height of the children beneficiaries varying according to child nutrition status during the start of the intervention as observe in their physical appearance and as reflected in the monitoring reports.