by teresa campos
Balay ni Ifan

Regional media groups organized by the National Nurition Council from the different parts of the country had finally met each other for the first time during the launching of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition or PPAN 2017-2022 in Iloilo City on May 02, 2017.

These brothers and sisters came in flocks to show support and pledge anew their commitment to the PPAN, as the country’s blueprint of actions for nutrition improvement.

In her speech, Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial stressed the need to address the ‘ticking bomb’ in the country—the problem on stunting—which the media can help address through their pen and paper, and their recorders and microphones.

She noted that with all the events and conflicts besetting the country, the media should not also forget to report one of the oldest battles that the government has been trying to win over the years…and that is malnutrition.

She enjoined every Ifan during the PPAN launch to lead the loud voice of nutrition amidst the noise of all that is happening in the country, as she believes in the power and influence of the Fourth Estate on people.

The appeal of the good Secretary did not fall on deaf ears, for after the PPAN launching, a media workshop immediately followed where every regional media group has drawn plans on how to strengthen the campaign against malnutriton, particularly on stunting.

Despite the regional boundaries, languages, sexes, cultures and affiliations, these media groups made a vow to help NNC popularize the new PPAN and its substantial contents.

Most of all, they made also a commitment to do something beyond their duty as media practitioners in helping stop the ticking bomb. ###