The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has a potentially far-reaching, long-term negative impact on children in the Philippines. It has a high risk of becoming a nutrition crisis as overburdened healthcare and disrupted food systems prevent children from getting nutritious diets.

After the successful World Milk Day 2020 #AlaskaFutureReady digital campaign, Alaska Milk Corporation (AMC) dedicated this year’s celebration in providing affordable nutrition amidst the pandemic as well as the promotion of healthy lifestyle through the resurrection of traditional Filipino games.

AMC communed with seven (7) chosen orphanages nationwide in which they will be able to feed 276 orphaned kids from ages four (4) years old and above in the span of 120 feeding days. The beneficiaries chosen were from Reach Youth Ministries Inc., The Field of Dreams Children’s Charity Foundation, Padre Pio’s Home for the Children Inc., Home of Hope Inc., Bukid ng Kabataan Shelter, Bantay Bata Children’s’ Village, and Bahay ni San Jose.

As part of the Milk Feeding Program, AMC conducted a Virtual Orientation to the administrators of the orphanages wherein the benefits of a glass of milk daily were discussed as well as the correct way of preparing Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk in order to optimize its nutritional contents. AMC also highlighted the value of deworming prior to the 120-day milk feeding to ensure that the child will absorb all the nutrients that the milk could offer.

In these depressing times, the orphaned and abandoned children are the most vulnerable due to malnutrition and neglect. That is why it is critical to ensure that their nutritional needs are met to avoid its exacerbating health effects in the years to come.

We should examine in real-time the strategies used and improve our ability to adapt how, when, and where we can provide support to children. Their future will continue to remain uncertain if attention is not given to nutrition issues the same way as the fight against COVID-19.