Once again a virtual gathering happened on 16 July 2020 where 26 participants convene for a virtual thematic symposium on the 46th Nutrition Month Celebration. The activity was attended by Regional Information Officers, Nutrition Action Officers, and other health and nutrition workers. The National Nutrition Council Regional Office 9 headed by Nutrition Program Coordinator Nimfa D. Ekong spearheaded the conduct of the activity to discuss this year’s Nutrition Month theme “Batang Pinoy, SANA TALL… Iwas stunting, SAMA ALL! Iwas ALL din sa COVID-19!”
As mentioned in the welcome message of NPC Ekong that improving the nutrition situation of our country cannot be achieved by the generosity of a single sector’s spoon alone. It requires collaboration in creating and recreating ideas; seeking unity and totality of approach toward nutrition adequacy for all Filipinos. Thus she encouraged the participants and their agencies to be one of the spoons and contribute to the improvement of the nutrition situation not only in our region but in the whole country.
During the conduct of the activity, the videos on “Batang 1000” and “Ningning” was showed to the participants. The videos emphasize the importance of maternal nutrition as this will also affect the nutrition of the baby inside the mother’s womb. If the first 1000 days of a child’s life is not given importance, this may lead to malnutrition specifically stunting where the consequences resulted to poor school performance, illness and diseases, and future unproductivity as adults.
Nutrition Officer II Gabriel C. Tubigon gave a comprehensive presentation of the Nutrition Month talking points. This year’s theme focuses on stunting and emphasizes on the impact of stunting and evidence-based solutions to prevent stunting. As Regional Information Officers, they are encouraged to share the knowledge and learnings they gained during the symposium to their respective agencies and that they will be committed to increase investments in nutrition interventions and scale-up nutrition actions.
Since the sub-message of the 2020 Nutrition Month Theme is “Iwas ALL din sa COVID-19!”, Health Education and Promotion Officer of DOH Region 9 Chrystal Jean Intal Dela Cerna gave a quick yet detailed discussion of DOH’s Bida Solusyon sa COVID-19 campaign. The campaign promotes the active role of individuals in the fight against COVID-19 by practicing the following behaviors simplified into 4 letters (BIDA):
B- Bawal walang mask
I- I-sanitize ang mga kamay; iwas-hawak sa mga bagay
D- Dumistansiya ng isang metro
A- Alamin ang totoong impormasyon
The pandemic did not stop the participants from joining the activity. Even just virtually, the participants were able to comprehend the consequences of stunting and what they as Information Officers of their respective agencies can do to be one of the spoons and to collaborate as well with other agencies to improve the country’s nutrition situation. As what the BIDA Solusyon sa COVID-19 campaign instills, “Let’s all be part of the solution, not the problem”
AA VI Cielo Katrina M. Mabalot
