Aside from the regional virtual launch of the 2020 Nutrition Month Celebration on 01 July 2020, municipalities, cities, and provinces of Zamboanga Peninsula also launched the 2020 Nutrition Month Celebration in their respective localities.  This year’s Nutrition Month focuses on Stunting, a form of undernutrition which is being short for one’s age when compared to the WHO Child Growth Standards. Hence the theme “Batang Pinoy, SANA TALL… Iwas Stunting, SAMA ALL! Iwas ALL din sa COVID-19!”

To highlight the month-long celebration despite the pandemic, several municipalities, cities, and provinces of Region 9 launched the 2020 Nutrition Month by hanging the official 2020 Nutrition Month streamers at strategic places like bus terminals, gymnasiums, municipal halls and health centers. Likewise, some local government units launched the 2020 Nutrition Month during the flag raising ceremony. By doing this, the community will be aware of this year’s Nutrition Month theme and ensure that Batang Pinoys, are SANA TALL. Some also launched their month-lone nutrition month activities with a contest and some even launched the Nutrition Month Celebration via announcements in radio stations. Moreover, some LGUs also distributed food packs, Ready to Use Supplementary Food (RUSF) and vegetable seeds to households.

The 46^th Nutrition Month aims to reduce the prevalence of stunted Filipino children. In order to do this, mothers, caregivers, family members, communities, government, academe, NGOs, civic groups, civil society and private sector should help each other by disseminating the talking points of this year’s theme focused on stunting and this can be done through the hanging of streamers, posting on websites and social media platforms, provide services related to stunting prevention, conduct Nutrition Month activities related to the theme such as cooking demonstrations on complementary food for mothers and caregivers, forum and seminars for parents, and activities for adolescents to prevent teen pregnancy.

Several activities that were lined up will still be conducted by the National Nutrition Council Regional Office 9, provinces, cities, and municipalities around Zamboanga Peninsula.

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A Happy Nutrition Month to all!

AA VI Cielo Katrina M. Mabalot