To reinforce public awareness on the importance of the first 1000 days of a child’s life starting from conception and before the child turns two, the Cagayan de Oro City Government has joined the celebration calling this year’s nutrition month a much different commemoration than the past.
City nutrition committee member Nenita Rabe said this year is different from the past observance as the National Nutrition Council (NNC) sheds light on the health of pregnant women, which she said, is the stage where the child starts receiving nutrients from the mother.
“Karun hatagan nato ug higayun nga matutukan ang mga pregnant. Kay ang 1000 days ni baby magsugod sa mama. Kung ayuhon nato ang health sa mga mama expected nga healthy baby jud paggawas,” she said.
Growth faltering
The NNC said it is during this period when growth faltering happens.
The NNC said that many studies have shown a link between undernutrition, especially stunting, in the early years of life and overnutrition in the later years. Thus, calling the first 1000 days “golden window of opportunity” since it is the best time to achieve significant changes in the child’s development.
NNC said the campaign aims in creating awareness on the importance of proper infant and young child feeding practices, particularly exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and giving appropriate complementary food after six months while continuing breastfeeding.
According to Dr. Fe C. Bongcas, the chairperson of City Nutrition Committee said, “Ang nutrition sa pregnant mother is very important. Kay diha mag-start pud ang nutrition sa bata. Kay kung dili maayo ang nutrition sa mama, dili sad maayo ang nutrition sa baby. Mahimong siyang malnourish sa paggawas or stunted growth, meaning dili na siya mudako nga healthy.”
Dr. Bongcas said the city provides programs to assist pregnant mothers, such as the PhilHealth accreditation of some 45 pregnant women covering health and medical expenses of an expectant mother.
She is also calling on pregnant mothers to register on the program in able to avail of free prenatal checkups in health centers and among other services.
In her message, Nutrition Program Coordinator of National Nutrition Council X, Marissa DM. Navales said that Northern Mindanao has a 'double burden of malnutrition,' a condition where both undernutrition and overnutrition co-exist within a particular area.
All 80 barangays in the city and their nutrition councils joined in Monday’s opening, July 4, at Gaston Park. (Lyra Patanao/Mindanao State University-Marawi Intern, SunStar)
