The region’s lead agency in championing nutrition excellence, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) of Region X together with its partners from the public and private sectors will lead the celebration of the 2016 July Nutrition Month in the region.
In line with the 42nd Nutrition Month theme “FIRST 1000 DAYS ni baby pahalagahan para sa malusog na kinabukasan!”, the NNC X is expected to initiate nutrition information, education and communication programs anchored on the significance of proper child-caring and rearing practices for the First 1000 days of the child.
NNC X has lined up several activities for the month-long occasion. The 2016 Nutrition Month Celebration shall kick-start with a formal launching on July 4, 2016 in partnership with the City Government of Cagayan de Oro and ends with a Nutrition Forum on July 29, 2016 where contributing partners and winning participants of the mobile photo contest will be acknowledged and awarded.
The 2016 Nutrition Month Celebration will be highlighted by a Mobile Photo Contest open to Grades 6-10 and Grades 11-12 students. The local government units in the entire region will take part in the annual celebration by promoting various nutrition activities and programs through their Local Nutrition Committees.
THE 2016 NUTRITION MONTH AND ITS FOCUS
This year’s nutrition month generally aims to intensify awareness on proper maternal nutrition and early childhood care and development during the First 1000 Days of the child.
The First 1000 days is the period from conception until the child’s second birthday, which is globally considered as the “golden window of opportunity”. It is a vital stage in life where nutrition has a significant impact on the growing child’s mental and physical development.
Since the mother is the sole source of nourishment for the baby during pregnancy, mothers should ensure proper nutrition during pregnancy and lactation period. From birth to six months, the baby must be breastfed exclusively, and given appropriate complementary feeding thereafter while continuing breastfeeding until two years of age.
Growth faltering happens if the child has poor nutrition during the First 1000 days. Studies proved a link between undernutrition, specifically, stunting in the early years and overnutrition in the later years resulting to the development of non-communicable diseases.
Proper nutrition during the First 1000 days can considerably contribute to the optimum growth and well-being of the child. A child’s future hinges greatly on the care provided at an early age. Hence, the Nutrition Month campaign.
According to Marissa Navales, Nutrition Program Coordinator of NNC X, the First 1000 days campaign strives to alleviate the increase in stunting (putot) among Filipinos. Researches show that 2 years’ loss of height cannot be regained and that height at 2 years old is predictive of stunting in older age.
The success of the 2016 Nutrition Month to encourage Filipino families to raise healthy and well-rounded Filipino children heavily depends on the cooperation of all stakeholders.
NNC X is hopeful that through the agency and its partners’ concerted effort, the 2016 Nutrition Month will be instrumental in upholding the well-being of the vulnerable groups particularly the children, pregnant and lactating women in the region.
“The celebration of Nutrition Month is a rallying point and a unifying force to gain the support and commitment of different stakeholders towards scaled up nutrition actions in Northern Mindanao. After all we are One Region in Nutrition”, says NPC Navales. -SunStar, 1 July 2016-
