The Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) is a comprehensive project launched to combat malnutrition and stunting among children in the Philippines.
It aims to improve nutrition and health outcomes through a multisectoral approach, involving key government agencies like the DSWD and international organizations.
The project is notable for its focus on reducing stunting, enhancing maternal and child health, and promoting long-term economic growth by building a healthier workforce.
By integrating with existing programs and leveraging global standards, the PMNP seeks to provide sustainable solutions to malnutrition, so that no child is left behind.
This underscores the importance of coordinated efforts in addressing public health issues and fostering socio-economic development.
Significance of the Program
The Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) is a landmark move addressing one of the most pressing health issues in the Philippines: malnutrition and stunting among children.
This project is essential because malnutrition significantly impacts both individual lives and the nation’s overall development. Here’s why the PMNP is significant:
Reducing Childhood Stunting
Childhood stunting is a severe problem in the Philippines, affecting about 30% of children under five years old.
Stunting results from chronic undernutrition, impacting a child’s physical and cognitive development.
By focusing on reducing stunting rates, the PMNP aims to improve children’s growth and mental development, leading to better academic performance and future productivity.
Improving Maternal and Child Health
The PMNP’s focus on enhancing maternal and child health services ascertains that pregnant women and young children receive the nutrition and care they need.
Improved antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and postnatal care contribute to healthier pregnancies and better outcomes for mothers and babies.
Promoting Long-term Economic Growth
Investing in nutrition is not just about health—it’s also about economic development.
Healthy children are more likely to become productive adults, contributing positively to the economy.
By tackling malnutrition, the PMNP helps build a healthier, more capable workforce, which is essential for the country’s long-term economic growth.
Enhancing Food Security
Through community-based interventions, the PMNP addresses food security issues, so that families have access to diverse and nutritious foods.
This not only improves individual health but also strengthens local economies by promoting agricultural diversity and sustainability.
Addressing Inequality
The PMNP targets the most vulnerable populations, including those in remote and marginalized communities.
By providing essential nutrition and health services to these groups, the project helps reduce health disparities and promote equality.
This inclusive approach makes sure that no one is left behind in the fight against malnutrition.
Building Resilient Communities
By integrating with existing programs like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and leveraging partnerships with various government agencies and international organizations, the PMNP builds resilient communities.
The program’s emphasis on local capacity building and community involvement ascertains that these interventions are sustainable and effective.
Leveraging Multisectoral Collaboration
The PMNP’s multisectoral approach brings together various stakeholders, including the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture, and local government units.
This collaboration fosters a comprehensive and coordinated effort to address the multifaceted issue of malnutrition.
Aligning with Global Standards
By incorporating global knowledge and standards from partners like the World Bank and the United Nations, the PMNP sees to it that its interventions are based on the best available evidence and practices.
This alignment with international standards enhances the program’s effectiveness and credibility.
Legal Framework
The Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) is supported by a robust legal framework, promoting effective implementation and coordination across various government levels. Key components include:
- National Nutrition Council (NNC): Provides policy direction and coordination for national nutrition strategies.
- Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger (IATF-ZH): Coordinates government efforts to eliminate hunger and improve food security.
- Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD): Main implementing agencies, mandated to deliver health and social services, including nutrition programs.
- Local Government Code of 1991: Empowers local government units (LGUs) to manage local health and nutrition programs.
- Executive Order No. 138: Facilitates the devolution of national government functions to LGUs, including nutrition services.
- Memorandum of Agreement (MOA): Formalizes roles and responsibilities among DOH, DSWD, and LGUs for PMNP implementation.
- Republic Act No. 11148 (First 1,000 Days Law): Mandates comprehensive nutrition and health programs during a child’s first 1,000 days.
- Environmental and Social Framework (ESF): Guides management of environmental and social risks, fostering sustainability and inclusivity.
- Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Performance-Based Grants (PBGs): Tracks progress and incentivizes LGUs to achieve specific health and nutrition outcomes.
Objectives and Scope
The primary goal of the PMNP is to increase the utilization of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions and improve key behaviors and practices that reduce stunting in targeted LGUs. The project focuses on:
- Increasing the percentage of pregnant women receiving complete iron-folic acid supplements.
- Making sure pregnant women receive prescribed antenatal care services from the first trimester.
- Improving household access to improved toilets.
- Making sure children aged 6-23 months meet the minimum age-appropriate diet.
These objectives are aligned with the broader aim of reducing stunting and malnutrition rates across the Philippines.
Implementation and Duration
The PMNP is a four-year project led by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
It will be implemented in 235 LGUs with the highest burden of childhood stunting and undernutrition, plus 40 municipalities from three provinces in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Covering a total of 5,936 barangays in 235 municipalities across 26 provinces, the project maintains extensive reach and impact.
Key Components
Strengthening Delivery of Nutrition and Primary Health Services
This component focuses on enhancing nutrition-specific services such as antenatal care, skilled birth deliveries, postnatal care, reproductive health services, and integrated management of childhood illnesses.
Performance-based grants (PBGs) will be provided to LGUs to catalyze their implementation of these high-impact interventions.
Community-Driven Nutrition Interventions
This component supports LGUs and communities in preparing local nutrition action plans and institutionalizing nutrition concerns in local development planning. Activities include:
- Development of Local Health and Nutrition Action Plans (LHNAPs).
- Social Behavior and Change Communications (SBCC) to promote healthy behaviors and practices.
Institutional Strengthening, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Communications
This component provides personnel support for the delivery of project targets and activities, including:
- Capacity building for LGUs.
- Monitoring and evaluation to track progress and impact.
- Technical assistance for effective project implementation.
Funding and Partnerships
The World Bank has granted a loan of USD 178.1 million (approximately PHP 9.7 billion) to support the PMNP.
The project involves collaboration between various government agencies, including the DOH, DSWD, Department of Agriculture (DA), National Nutrition Council (NNC), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The United Nations also supports the project, bringing global knowledge and standards to enhance its success.
Specific Nutrition Interventions
Nutrition-Specific Interventions
- Optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices: Promoting breastfeeding and complementary feeding for children aged 6-23 months.
- Management of Malnutrition: Facility and community-based management of moderate and severe acute malnutrition.
- Growth Monitoring: Regular growth monitoring for children under 5 years old.
- Micronutrient Supplementation and Fortification: Iron and folic acid for pregnant women, vitamin A for children, and zinc during diarrhea management.
- Primary Health Care Services: Comprehensive maternal and child health services.
Nutrition-Sensitive Interventions
- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): Improving access to clean water and sanitation facilities and promoting appropriate hygiene practices.
- Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD): Enhancing access to early childhood care and development services.
- Food Security and Livelihoods: Community-based interventions to improve food diversity and security and support families affected by malnutrition.
- Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC): Activities aimed at changing behaviors related to nutrition and health.
Integration with the 4Ps Program
The PMNP integrates with the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to enhance its impact:
- Beneficiary Identification and Monitoring: Updating information on new pregnancies and newborns among 4Ps beneficiaries.
- Access to PMNP Interventions: Supporting 4Ps beneficiaries to benefit from PMNP activities.
- Enhanced Monitoring: Monitoring 4Ps recipients within the PMNP framework.
- Behavioral Change Communication: Using 4Ps platforms to reach beneficiaries with SBCC activities.
- Complementary Approaches: Combining financial support from 4Ps with PMNP’s supply-side interventions.
Expected Outcomes
The PMNP aims to address the persistent problem of undernutrition in the Philippines, which has been ongoing for over 30 years.
By focusing on reducing stunting and health and nutrition inequalities, the project seeks to bring transformative solutions to leave no one behind.
Expected outcomes include significant positive impacts on child health, maternal health, immune systems, pregnancy outcomes, and overall human development.
Recent Updates
Mayor Magbalon Participates in Mayors Forum on Nutrition Governance
Mayor Natividad Isabel R. Magbalon joined the panel of reactors at the Mayors Forum on Nutrition Governance as part of the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP). The project aims to enhance nutrition policies, optimize resources, and improve interventions for universal healthcare, embodying the belief that “Nutrisyon Sapat Para Sa Lahat.”
Mayor Marites C. Dela Rosa actively participates in a forum on nutrition governance organized by the Philippine Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP), following ONELAB’s receipt of a P2.3M cash grant for nutrition projects. Emphasizing the importance of proper nutrition in promoting overall well-being, Mayor Baby prioritizes nutrition efforts under the Serbisyong Totoo program, ascertaining the continuity of ONELAB’s impactful work.
The Mayor of Dimasalang attends the Mayors Forum on the Philippine Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) organized by the Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The municipality is fortunate to be part of this government program aimed at enhancing community nutrition.
Representing LGU Virac, the Mayor participates in the PMNP Mayor’s Forum on Nutrition Governance, underscoring the municipality’s dedication to access to nutritious food for all residents. The collaboration with PMNP reflects a shared goal of promoting sufficient nutrition for the community.
The PMNP Mayor’s Forum on Nutrition Governance serves as a platform for Local Chief Executives to reorient themselves on the project’s objectives and contextualize it within the local health system. This program, focusing on policies, resources, and interventions for universal healthcare, aims to empower LGU leaders in PMNP Municipalities to enhance nutrition governance and combat malnutrition effectively, particularly stunting. The Municipality of San Miguel, Catanduanes, expresses gratitude for the PMNP grant, committing to utilizing it for impactful nutrition interventions.
Video: Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project National Launch
Part II of the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) National Launch features a high-level discussion to advance efforts in improving children’s nutrition outcomes in the country. The event focuses on collaborative strategies to enhance nutrition efforts and address challenges affecting children’s well-being.
Conclusion
The Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) represents a significant investment in the country’s human capital, addressing issues of nutrition and stunting through a coordinated, multisectoral approach.
Its success could have far-reaching implications for the Philippines’ socio-economic development and the well-being of its population.
By leveraging partnerships and integrating with existing programs like 4Ps, the PMNP aims to create a sustainable and impactful change in the fight against malnutrition.