Super Nanay!

MANILA, Philippines - Mothers in the third class municipality of Panitan in Capiz are learning how to be Super Nanays, thanks to efforts by the Department of Health to boost its FOURmula One (F1) Health Program in the province, with the assistance of the European Union.

“Super Nanay” is the name of an F1 Health Program activity of the DOH which aims to improve the health system in poor barangays. 

Dr. Christy Advincula, Panitan municipal health officer, gave a crash course on “super nanay-hood” to about 40 mothers in the area that focused on nutrition as the foundation of a family’s good health. The course defined nutrition in practical terms, identifying foods and substances that are affordable and readily available in the community, then progressed into a cooking demonstration of nutritious, flavorful, and very affordable recipes using native ingredients. The cooks gave a creative twist to common ingredients, showing how nutritious food can be tasty as well.   

“Mothers are Super Nanays because they are real-life heroes who ensure the physical and mental health of their children as they grow up. Their daily heroic efforts are very closely tied to the food they serve and their nutritional value. Mothers’ efforts in their kitchens make healthy and productive Filipino families,” Advincula said.

So what does it take for an ordinary mother to become a Super Nanay?  The DOH introduced the following interesting and nutritious fare: 

The first recipe was wetwet, a snack with chunks of bananas, kamote (sweet potato) and tapioca balls in a coconut milk sauce.  Insumix was used to thicken the sauce and to give it added nutritional value. Nutritionist Sharon Dumali explained that Indigenous Supplementary Mix or Insumix is made from rice, mongo beans and sesame seeds, processed together in an easy-to-dissolve powder form. It was initially formulated for undernourished infants to help them gain and maintain proper weight.  

Tahong lumpia came next – tahong (local mussels) steamed, chopped and mixed with chopped singkamas, carrots, and onions, then blended with flour, egg, water, and Insumix.  The mixture was then rolled in lumpia wrappers and fried. Dumali explained that mussels are a healthier and more affordable substitute for ground pork, which is the more popular ingredient for lumpia. But, as the participants later noted, it is just as delicious. 

The last recipe was Insumix soup with shells and malunggay leaves. The mussels were cooked in boiling water, flavored with ginger and seasoned with a little salt. Again, Insumix was added, as well as malunggay leaves for a healthy garnish. The mothers were taught how to prepare Insumix at home for the sustenance of their families.  

Dr. Leah del Rosario from the Department of Health told the mothers that “being poor is not an excuse for not eating nutritious food. You can make use of any small space around your house to plant vegetables so you can enjoy healthy food everyday. Pots, empty cans, even broken basins can be used for planting. Using compost from kitchen waste will ensure that the plants will grow well.”   

Del Rosario added that children will perform better in school when properly fed. And if the lessons learned from the cooking demonstration were to be applied, they can feed their families well throughout the day. 

She also explained the importance of prenatal checkups for pregnancy care, so health providers can spot danger signs and prevent possible complications during delivery. She reminded the mothers that prenatal and post-natal services are free at the Rural Health Unit, along with the vitamins and immunizations that they should take during pregnancy. She also emphasized the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child, newborn screening, and immunization to increase children’s chances for a healthier, better life.  

In his closing remarks, Capiz Provincial Health Officer Dr. Sam Delfin said the activity was an enriching experience. He thanked the European Union for their “continuing support for the province’s health programs, and for initiating activities like the Super Nanay which have a positive impact on local communities.” 

Delfin said they will be replicating the Super Nanay events in other barangays in the province.