Stunting is an irreversible outcome of poor nutrition which causes children to have diminished cognitive and physical development, reduced productive capacity and poor health. Interventions focusing on the First 1000 Days of life are proven to be effective in preventing undernutrition, thus, became the focus of the 31st Annual C/DNPC Regional Conference with the theme “Stop Stunting: Invest in the First 1000 Days” held on September 9, 2016 at the Century Park Hotel, Malate, Manila.
The conference conducted in partnership with the National Nutrition Council – National Capital Region (NNC-NCR) was attended by around 100 C/DNPCs together with guests and partners from the hospital and academe. It tackled the importance of investing in nutrition during the First 1000 Days as a cost-effective and economical strategy to stop stunting. By providing good nutrition during this critical period, we do not only prevent stunting but also other forms of malnutrition such as wasting, overnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies.
In her keynote message, Senator Risa Hontiveros recognized stunting as a major health and nutrition problem in the country that can be reduced not just by feeding the child but giving the right amount and kind of food every day. Similarly, children should be provided with a caring and loving environment and protected from diseases.
“It is part of my legislative advocacy to provide and safeguard the budget for the maternal and child development care programs of this nation. I will fully support bills filed in my committee that will promote and sustain maternal and child nutrition and development care. The journey to a better future starts with helping our children reach their full potential. Let us make this a movement. It is what every child in this country deserves”, Senator Hontiveros said.
During the technical session, invited resource speakers who are experts in their respective fields updated the C/DNPCs on the current strategies, issues and gaps and recommendations to scale up nutrition during the First 1000 Days to prevent and reduce stunting. Topics included Improving Maternal Nutrition: A Key to Stunting Prevention (Dr. Erlidia Llamas-Clark, Attending Consultant Obstetrician Gynecologist, UP-PGH); Scaling Up IYCF in Preventing and Reducing Stunting (Dr. Romelei Camiling-Alfonso, Representative, Kalusugang ng Mag-ina, Inc.); A Multi-faceted, Life Cycle Approach to Nutritional Improvement (Dr. Corazon VC. Barba, Nutrition Consultant, UN World Food Programme-Philippines) and a motivational talk – “New Start” (Bro. Roberto “Obet” Cabrillas, Feast Builder, Manila and Valle Verde, Pasig).
NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo encouraged the C/DNPCs to reflect on and to ask themselves: as nutrition program coordinators in the communities, are they doing enough? Are they doing the right things the right way to reduce malnutrition in its many forms?
“In Metro Manila, 29.4% of children under 5 years of age are short for their age or stunted based on the 2015 FNRI National Nutrition Survey. We need to put our acts together to prevent the nutrition situation from worsening. We need to save children from the irreversible consequences of stunting. Let us do better for the sake of the children. Because the children cannot wait”, NPC Federizo emphasized.
(TAR/NPC MEVF/NNCNCR)
