On 1 July 2016, the National Nutrition Council-Region III spearheaded the regional launching of the 2016 Nutrition Month Celebration, with the theme “First 1000 days ni baby pahalagahan para sa malusog na kinabukasan!”. The 42nd Nutrition Month celebration was aimed to create awareness on the significance of good maternal nutrition and proper infant and young child feeding practices, particularly, exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and giving of appropriate complementary foods on the 6th month while continuing breastfeeding, and the continuum of services in early childhood care and development.
Held at the DOH-Regional Health Office III, Government Center, Maimpis, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, the 2016 NM launch was participated by 100 employees from the national government agencies. One of the highlights of the NM launching activity was the Search for “Gandang Buntis” Contest, participated by nine pre-selected pregnant women who are employees of the national agencies located inside and within the Regional Government Center Compound. The Search aimed to create awareness on the importance of good maternal nutrition and to encourage the pregnant women to initiate breastfeeding within one hour after delivery, practice exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months, introduce appropriate complementary feeding at 6 months while continuing breastfeeding up to two years.
Those who joined the contest did not go empty-handed as the first, second and third prize winners received gift checks worth Php3,000, Php2,000 and Php1,500, respectively. The 6 non-winners received gift certificates worth Php500 each. Other tokens received by the gandang buntis contestants were breastfeeding cover, UNICEF-developed ECCD flyer on the First 1000 Days, Recipe Book on Complementary Feeding, and a vanity kit courtesy of DOH-RHO III.
The selection of winners was made possible by the very competent board of judges from the members of the Regional Nutrition Committee/Regional Technical Working Group, namely: Ms. Lydia F. Sunggod of the NCIP-Region III, Ms. Geraldine V. Sombero of NEDA-Region III and Mr. Roger C. Codnita of DWAY Radio Station and member of Centra Luzon Media Group.
When asked what the gandang buntis contestants appreciated more about the 2016 NM Celebration launching activity was the opportunity to listen to the two lectures on the “Establishment of Lactation Station in the Workplace” by Ms. Margarita Santos-Natividad from the DOH-RFO III and the “Guidelines on Establishing a Lactation Station by Ms. Dianne Corryne Ramos from DOLE-Region III. Presentation of these two competent lecturers can be downloaded from the NNC-Region III website.
