Providing tailored nutritional supplements 1-2 times monthly and online nutrition education by experts for individuals with nutritional risk factors such as anemia, underweight, and growth retardation below 80% of the median income standard
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Changwoo Lee) is recruiting participants for the 2021 Nutrition Plus Program throughout the year to promote the health of pregnant women and infants.
This program provides necessary nutrition education based on the health status of participants for 6 months up to a maximum of 1 year, and supports supplementary foods rich in essential nutrients to solve nutritional problems and improve dietary management skills.
Eligible participants are residents of Dongjak-gu with income levels at or below 80% of the median income standard by household size, pregnant women (including expectant and postpartum mothers) and infants under 6 years old who have nutritional risk factors such as anemia, underweight, or growth retardation.
Applications can be made non-face-to-face via phone, email (yyplus9450@dongjak.go.kr), or fax to the Public Health Center Nutrition Plus Center, and participants are selected through nutrition assessments conducted at the beginning of each month.
Selected participants receive customized nutritional supplements consisting of six types of food packages delivered directly to their homes once or twice a month to support a balanced diet. Regular evaluations are conducted to monitor changes in nutritional risk factors and nutritional status, including ▲physical measurements (height, weight, obesity index) ▲anemia tests ▲24-hour dietary intake surveys.
Additionally, the district has converted the previously face-to-face nutrition education into an ‘online community education’ using EBS Parenting School and the district website to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The program is held once a month on various topics such as ▲breast care for breastfeeding ▲successful weaning and infant feeding ▲prevention of constipation and obesity in infants and toddlers ▲behavioral strategies for children with feeding behavior problems ▲snacks for infants using supplementary foods ▲food hygiene and management of supplementary foods ▲prevention and control of anemia.
Moreover, one-on-one personalized nutrition counseling is provided via phone, and tailored nutrition information such as ▲methods for weaning by age ▲improving picky eating in toddlers ▲foods for anemia prevention ▲growth charts for infants and toddlers is delivered by mail or email.
Kim Hyungsook, Director of Health Management, said, “With this online education, we can safely conduct the program while strictly adhering to COVID-19 prevention guidelines,” and added, “We will continue to promote lifecycle nutrition management and projects to encourage healthy eating habits for pregnant women and infants.”
The district has been implementing the Nutrition Plus Program since 2008, and last year supported 664 pregnant women and infants, resulting in improved nutritional status such as anemia and achieving a satisfaction rate of over 91%.
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