First 1000 Days ni baby pahalagahan para sa malusog na kinabukasan.

The theme focuses on the first 1000 days of life starting from conception and before the second
birthday of the child. It is during this period when growth faltering happens. Many studies have
shown a link between undernutrition, especially stunting, in the first years of life and
overnutrition in the later years. Thus, the First 1000 Days has been called the golden window of
opportunity for a comprehensive package of nutrition and related interventions to achieve
significant changes in reduction in child stunting, underweight and wasting, at the same time
contribute to complete child development.
Highlighting the First 1000 Days during Nutrition Month in July 2016 aims to create awareness
on the importance of proper infant and young child feeding practices, particularly exclusive
breastfeeding for the first 6 months and giving appropriate complementary food after six months
while continuing breastfeeding. The celebration also aims to promote collaboration among
various stakeholders both at the national and local levels for programs serving families with
pregnant mothers and children less than 2 years old. The 2016 Nutrition Month celebration will
also serve as a venue for the launching of the Early Childhood Care and Development
Intervention Package (ECCD-IP) for the First 1000 Days.
The NNC leads the ECCD-IP First 1000 Days program which aims to contribute to the full
development of the child through integrated services of health, nutrition, early education, and
social services for improved quality of the countrys human resource base as a contribution to
reduce poverty. It addresses the call for a "holistic approach to the provision of health, nutrition,
education, and social welfare services to children 0-8 years of age", but with an even more
refined focus on the first 1000 days of life. Specifically, the ECCD-IP First 1000 Days aims to:
1) reduce mortality and morbidity rates among children 0-23 months old; 2) reduce the
prevalence of stunting and wasting among children 0-23 months old; and 3) increase the
percentage of children 0-23 months old meeting developmental milestones. The ECCD-IP First
1000 Days will be implemented in the Accelerated and Sustainable Anti-Poverty Program
(ASAPP) municipalities and cities from the Category 1 provinces covering a total of 9 regions,
10 provinces, 10 cities and 42 municipalities, from 2016-2018.
The NNC encourages all sectors to plan and celebrate Nutrition Month in July along this theme.
The NNC shall coordinate with national and local governments, non-government organizations,
private sector, media, the academe, and other stakeholders to increase awareness about the First
1000 Days.
The chosen theme is a modification of the theme contest entry Unang 1000 days in baby
pahalagahan para sa malusog na kinabukasan which was submitted by Ms. Desiree P. Reyes
of Mayondon, Los Baos, Laguna