Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte on Sunday called on the Department of Health and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. to hasten the nationwide implementation of their new benefit package for premature infants and small newborns.
Villafuerte made the appeal as Congress moves to institutionalize maternal and child care.
“One of them is House Bill No. 1340 that provides for a comprehensive health-care strategy covering the first 1,000 days of a child’s life from the womb to up to two years of age. This is a more complete program that targets the critical window of time vital to a person’s intellectual development and lifelong health,” he said.
The bill, authored by Villafuerte, also provides for a barangay-based health-care program for mothers and infants.
He said DoH and PhilHealth’s benefit package for premature and small newborns would complement the proposed “First 1,000 Days Act.”
Citing the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology, Camarines Sur, which used to have the highest malnutrition rate in Bicol, was able to reduce the figure by over 45 percent.
On Villafuerte’s watch as former governor, Camarines Sur reported having the lowest number of underweight kids aged zero-five years old.
The lawmaker said research showed cost-effective interventions should start at the womb, where the first 1,000 days of an infant’s life begins.
“The first 1,000 days of a child’s life is most critical for growth and development. Consequently, hunger and poor nutrition during this period can have irreversible consequences,” Villafuerte said.