The local government of Arteche in Eastern Samar province on Monday launched its 120-day feeding program to address malnutrition in the town.

The local government partnered with a non-profit organization, the ASA Foundation, in the implementation of the Hapag-asa Program, targeting 519 malnourished children from the town’s 20 villages.

Recipients will undergo a feeding program five times a week using MannaPack, fortified rice with dried soybeans, vitamin-packed flavoring, and dehydrated vegetables.

Hapag-asa Program is implemented under Project Sustainable Nutrition and Nanay Empowerment (Project Susan), aimed at providing solutions to the pressing issue of malnutrition in the community.

Project Susan is a 36-month-long program targeting infants and their mothers aiming to secure their nutritional needs in their first 1,000 days to prevent cases of malnutrition and stunting, empower the mother or father, provide skills development, and provide livelihood.

Mayor Roland Boie Evardone said the program would also provide health support to mothers, such as check-ups and laboratories, nutrition education, and a complementary feeding program for their babies from seven months until they reach two years old.

At least 30 mothers who are in the first trimester of their pregnancy will benefit from Project Susan, until they give birth. This will be extended to their babies.

Aside from the Hapag-asa Program, the local government would also implement the Lunchbox Library: Healthy Readers On-the-Go! Program targeting 250 school-age children from Kindergarten to Grade 3.

This 20-week program aims to complement a child’s in-school literacy development and promote a love of reading in them, targeting not only students but also members of the community.

This also aims to bring together community partners and education stakeholders to help improve learners’ reading skills in the context of partnerships.

Books and other reading session materials will be provided throughout the five-month implementation of the program.

Reading sessions will be done weekly and complemented with supplementary feeding every session in partnership with their parents. (PNA)