Sun Life Philippines has joined in the efforts to combat malnutrition in the country. Sun Life Financial-Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Sun Life Foundation), the company’s philanthropic arm, recently signed a memorandum of agreement with Save the Children Philippines for the launch of “Project SUNBRIGHT.”
Around 600 people in Muntinlupa City will initially benefit from Project SUNBRIGHT, which which aims to reduce and prevent malnutrition through the support and promotion of exclusive and appropriate complementary feeding, including for pregnant and lactating mothers, parents with infants or children under two years of age, teenage mothers, caregivers and health service providers.
The project aims to determine the causes of undernutrition among infants, young children, pregnant and lactating women, as well as teenage mothers, and prevent such by promoting optimal “Infant & Young Child Feeding” (IYCF) practices, capacity-building of health services providers, and using Socio-Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) strategies. IYCF will also be strengthened in community groups among pregnant/lactating women and other stakeholders.
“Working with the Sun Life Foundation for this project has been truly fruitful and productive. They are very receptive of the project’s goals and have strong support for civil societies,” says Lourdes Pambid, program manager for Urban Health and Nutrition of Save the Children Philippines. “Through this collaboration, we are able to provide a wide array of interventions that promote breastfeeding as well as enhance existing efforts through strong advocacy of the practice.”
Project SUNBRIGHT is also expected to bolster existing efforts in publicizing nutrition concepts and programs that prevent or reduce undernutrition with an education drive that will train participants about Republic Act No. 11148 otherwise known as “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act,” maternal, newborn, infant and young child nutrition, Kangaroo Mother Care, essential intrapartum and newborn care, and management of moderate to severe acute malnutrition.
“Anchored on ‘Health,’ one of our pillars as an organization, the Sun Life Foundation is proud to have Save the Children as our implementing partner in this important endeavor to promote health and nutrition for mothers rearing up their babies,” says Kristine Dianne Millete, executive director of the Sun Life Foundation. “With this collaboration, we look forward to enhance existing efforts to promote breastfeeding among the beneficiaries who have children of breastfeeding age in an effort to minimize or altogether eliminate malnutrition among Filipino children.”
The Sun Life Foundation continues to work and collaborate with fellow organizations to promote health among its beneficiaries. Other notable projects include the Sun Life Barangay Health Stations, which provides basic healthcare in remote areas.
