Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11148

AN ACT SCALING UP THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS THROUGH A STRENGTHENED INTEGRATED STRATEGY FOR MATERNAL, NEONATAL, CHILD HEALTH AND NUTRITION IN THE FIRST ONE THOUSAND (1,000) DAYS OF LIFE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

CHAPTER I

General Provisions

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — The right to health is a fundamental principle guaranteed by the State. Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Constitution emphasizes that "The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them." Moreover, pursuant to various international human rights instruments and agreements that the State adheres to, the State guarantees the right to adequate food, care and nutrition to pregnant and lactating mothers, including adolescent girls, women of reproductive age, and especially children from zero (0) to two (2) years old.

Furthermore, the State commits to the Philippine Development Plan and the national...

Summary of Republic Act No. 11148 ("Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act")

Declaration of Policy and Objectives (Sections 2-3)
- Guarantees the right to adequate food, care and nutrition for pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls, and children from 0-2 years old.
- Aims to provide comprehensive strategies to address health and nutrition problems of newborns, infants, young children, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescent females.
- Promotes responsive caregiving, early stimulation, nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions.

Coverage and Definitions (Sections 5-6)
- Covers pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls, and Filipino children from 0-24 months, prioritizing those in disaster-prone areas, geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA), and high poverty incidence areas.
- Defines terms such as "first 1000 days", "malnutrition", "nutrition-sensitive interventions", "nutrition-specific interventions", "stunting", "wasting", and "severe acute malnutrition".

Program Implementation and Components (Sections 7-10)
- To be implemented at the barangay level through rural health units and barangay health centers, with the mobilization of Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and Barangay Health Workers (BHWs).
- Includes health and nutrition services and interventions for:
    - Prenatal period (Section 8a): e.g., antenatal care, maternal immunizations, counseling on nutrition and breastfeeding, micronutrient supplements.
    - Women about to give birth and immediate postpartum period (Section 8b): e.g., mother-friendly practices, breastfeeding support, nutrition counseling.
    - Postpartum and lactating women (Section 8c): e.g., lactation support, nutrition assessment, micronutrient supplements, breastfeeding-friendly workplaces.
    - Birth and newborn period (Section 8d): e.g., newborn care, breastfeeding initiation, newborn screening.
    - First 6 months of infancy (Section 8e): e.g., exclusive breastfeeding support, growth monitoring, management of acute malnutrition.
    - Infants 6 months to 2 years (Section 8f): e.g., complementary feeding, growth monitoring, micronutrient supplements, management of acute malnutrition.
    - Adolescent females (Section 9): e.g., nutrition assessment, micronutrient supplements, counseling on nutrition and healthy lifestyle.
- Other components include health and nutrition promotion, service delivery, capacity building, sectoral collaboration, and monitoring and evaluation (Section 10).

Nutrition in Disasters and Calamities (Section 11)
- Mandates the provision of emergency services, food supplies, and child-friendly spaces for pregnant and lactating women, and children 0-2 years old in disaster-affected areas.
- Prohibits donations of breastmilk substitutes without approval to protect breastfeeding.

Capacity Building and Barangay Health and Nutrition Volunteers (Section 12)
- Provides for training of BNS, BHWs, and other personnel on implementing health and nutrition services.

National Nutrition Council (NNC) Governing Board and Functions (Sections 13-15)
- Establishes the NNC Governing Board chaired by the Secretary of Health, with members from various government agencies and the private sector.
- The NNC is tasked with formulating national nutrition policies, coordinating and monitoring nutrition programs, and securing funds for nutrition programs.
- Member agencies are responsible for implementing nutrition programs and integrating nutrition concerns into their policies and plans.

Procurement, Monitoring, and Appropriations (Sections 16-18)
- Mandates a liberalized mode of procurement for the program, prioritizing local producers and suppliers (Section 16).
- Requires regular monitoring, review, and assessment of the program's impact and effectiveness (Section 17).
- Appropriations for the program's initial implementation shall be charged against the budgets of concerned agencies, and subsequent funding shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) (Section 18).

Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) and Effectivity (Sections 19-22)
- The Department of Health, in coordination with the NNC Governing Board and stakeholders, shall promulgate the IRR within 90 days from the law's effectivity (Section 19).
- The law shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation (Section 22).