By Benjamin S De Yro
For the National Nutrition Council Region 2, there is no turning back as to the implementation of its various programs and projects; pandemic or not.
In fact, this ‘ moving forward’ is manifested by this year’s Nutrition Month Celebration, ‘New Normal na nutrisyon, Sama-samang Gawan ng Solusyon.”
The theme, says Maria Gisela Lonzaga, regional nutrition coordinator, calls for a strengthened nutrition intervention towards its improvement as the country shifts towards living with Covid 19 virus.
It likewise signifies the key role of nutrition in building resilience from pandemic to endemic paradigm. It should be recalled that since the onset of the deadly virus which paralyzed the world and changed our perception of daily living, nutrition programs and projects in this country were disrupted.
This year’s celebration is significant as it calls upon nutrition advocates to influence decision-makers to ensure that nutrition is part of the development agenda in the coming administration.
However, it netted positive impacts to the service delivery sector, home food production and increased awareness of the situation, among others. The pandemic made people realized the importance of each other.
These year, three exciting activities, all for competition, have been concocted by NNC in the region to highlight the celebration scheduled to be launched in Quirino province by June 26.
Tiktok Contest targetted nutrition committees as participants and features creative ways to introduce the year’s theme on the new normal which signifies a transition for a better normal while building positive impact of the pandemic to become more resilient to prevent future pandemic.
While Poster Making contest is consistent over the years during nutrition month celebration, this year’s edition got two categories; LGU employees and secondary school students.
The competition is rather exciting as it is challenging to see how the two groups interprets this month’s theme on their material.
With the stroke of brushes and coloring material, Slogan Making contest will be paired with Poster Making Contest to heighten the artistic interpretation of this year’s theme.
On the other hand, Barangay Nutrition Scholars will be highlighted with this year’s celebration, Search for BNS Heroes, wherein BNSs with outstanding and exemplary performance during the new normal will be judged.
Digital Photography will also be the first time to be one of the contest activities in this year’s celebration. LGU employee’s will showcase their artistic and photographic skills.
For the first time, the National Nutrition Council Region 2 embarks on a new medium to dessiminate advocacies - the medium of documentary short films. This competition will be the domain of tertiary students who may submit two entries per institution.
The agency has always been on the right track. This year’s events are expected to maximize social media as medium of nutrition and health messages.
By July 4, all roads will lead to Quirino province for the launch while Dinapique town, along the coast of Isabela will play host to the culmination.
Afterall, health is the result of investing in good nutrition.
