CEBU, Philippines — As the country celebrates Nutrition Month this July, the National Nutrition Council 7 has launched a region-wide campaign to emphasize good health and nutrition in the first 1000 days of life, anchoring on the theme, “Malnutrisyon patuloy na labanan, First 1000 Days tutukan!”
NNC-7 nutrition program coordinator, Dr. Parolita Mission, said that every year, the NNC thru its technical committee identifies a focus of the celebration. The observance this year will center on the First 1000 Days.
Mission said that this is so because of the limited awareness of the people on the first 1000 days strategy at only 11.2 percent recall (NNC Message Recall Survey, 2021) and for the implementation of R.A. 11148 (Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act) that requires mobilization for scaling up of interventions in the first 1000 days.
She said that in Central Visayas alone, malnutrition prevalence may have decreased but the magnitude of those that are affected is still relatively high, particularly, those who are stunted or chronically malnourished at about 10.1 percent or 60,819 children 0-59 months from all over the region in 2020.
This year’s theme calls for continued efforts to address malnutrition in the country which is expected to worsen because of the pandemic and limited resources for nutrition.
The theme also asks all sectors to focus efforts on the First 1000 Days of life as the strategic intervention to prevent stunting.
The 2021 Nutrition Month campaign intends to educate, encourage and engage. Particularly, the campaign hopes to increase understanding of the First1000 Days of Life strategy and the Philippine Plan of Action on Nutrition as overall framework (Educate); Facilitates collaboration among various stakeholders for scaled up interventions to fight malnutrition (Encourage); and Generate interactions from stakeholders about nutrition (Engage).
While for the Nutrition Month celebration in Central Visayas, it aims to increase knowledge by 50 percent of a target population on the importance of first 1000 days; improve breastfeeding practices from 55.2 percent to 60 percent and complementary feeding performance of select population in the region from 18.6 percent to 23 percent by end of 2021, and generate concrete commitment from local policy makers and members of the local nutrition committees to support the First 1000 Days program.
Also, Mandaue City has kicked off the Nutrition Month celebration through distributing vitamins to the children in the city.
A cooking competition participated by the youth which highlights the use of vegetables was also conducted to encourage youngsters to recognize the importance of healthy living.
During the ceremony, the city officials emphasized the importance of prioritizing the health of Mandauehanons especially at these times of crisis.
Vegetable seedlings from the Mandaue City Agriculture Office were also distributed as part of their participation in the celebration.
Furthermore, NNC-7 and the Media Information Network for Nutrition and Development 7 (MIND-7) are hosting the first “Idol Ko si Nanay Virtual Nutrition School On-Air” as part of this month’s celebration.
This new program aims to improve and enhance the knowledge and practices of our mothers and caregivers on nutrition and Early Childhood Care and Development services in the First 1000 Days that can be used in their day to day lives.
A total of 53 virtual netizens were selected as official students. A total of ten virtual sessions will be done through NNC-7 official regional Facebook page. Classes will be accessed in the same medium every Tuesdays and Friday at 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. starting July 6, 2021.
The sessions will consist of lessons on the three important stages in the First 1000 Days namely: maternal health, exclusive breastfeeding, and appropriate complementary feeding. — GMR (FREEMAN)