A major effort of the National Nutrition Council and its partner agencies to address growing malnutrition is through Nutriskwela. NC-CAR point person for Nutriskwela Nancy Paclos says that government since 2008 funds equipment and trainings for Nutriskwela community radios. Paclos says that through community radio, education on health concerns reach far flung villages.
Aside from Nutriskwela community radios, the NNC partners with other private and government radio stations that air information materials on nutrition. Most popular is NNCs “10 Kumainments”.
Rita Papey NNC-CAR Regional Program Coordinator says CAR is not the worst in terms of malnutrition. The region fares well in terms of weight for under 5 children and also in terms of wasting in elderly citizens. But CAR has to address “stunting” in its children and “overweight” problems among its adult population.
Food security too is vital for proper nutrition. Again CAR is better off compared to other regions as its food production volume is adequate to provide the needs of its people. According to Papey, cultural values of Cordillerans in relation to food are contributory to higher food security in CAR. “We prioritize food over lipstick o postura….we plant food primarily rather than flowers tay ay makan nan bayaya?” says Papey.
But there are challenges to peoples’ nutrition and health. Economic conditions where peoples’ livelihoods do not result to better purchasing power or where livelihoods are non-existent means that nutritional needs are not met. Increasing availability of instant food and processed food even in Cordillera interior villages mean growing health concerns.
Rita Papey also says that the first 1000 days of a child is crucial in defining health of the child. For this, changing cultural values in the region can mean worsening health conditions of children. She encourages men to be more supportive of their wives specially during pregnancy and after childbirth. “Accompany your wives to prenatal check-ups so that husbands can help remind their wives of vaccinations, of “does and don’ts” …..husbands can help their wives specially after childbirth in what we call ‘tanggad’ or in household chores that address health and sanitation…” encourages Papey.
Through Nutriskwela community radios, the NNC hopes to increase health knowledge of communities and enjoin them to take action. “We encourage Bauko constituents and those that Radyo Kataguwan can reach in Sagada, Sabangan, Tadian and other municipalities to tune in to 97.3 FM as this is the latest Nutriskwela community radio for CAR. We encourage people not only to listen, but also to contribute their stories and know-how” Papey adds. Gwen Gay Gaongen, CRC member, women’s sector
