Nutrition is an investment of a child’s future. Malnutrition among children will contribute to their academic performances. “The fight to eradicate malnutrition is a continuous battle. Gains may be hard to win but this is one challenge that we can and must overcome”, the opening statement of Mayor Joseph Evangelista.

The City Nutrition Committee of Kidapawan City holds its first Nutrition Summit last April 10, 2017 with the theme, “Making Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time -bound Commitments from Promise to Impact: A Move toward Improving Nutrition” held at Kidapawan City Gymnasium. It was attended by about 200 participants which include Barangay Officials, Midwives, Barangay Health Workers, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, and different stakeholders in the city.

The summit aimed to set plan of action geared towards reducing malnutrition problem of the city affecting the most vulnerable and unprivileged population. As the Keynote Speaker, Mayor Joseph A. Evangelista emphasized that the fight against malnutrition is one of the major issues that needs to be addressed.  Thus, it needs a consolidated effort and active involvement from the different sectors/stakeholders, especially the community.  Mayor Evangelista shared to everyone that regular nutrition program of the city such as Supplementary Feeding will continue and the “Gulayan sa Barangay” will be sustained and intensified to help support the different feeding program.

Further, it was agreed during the Summit that each barangay will allocate budget intended for nutrition interventions and also to target rehabilitation of at least 50% of their malnourished children.

The summit ended with the signing of Pledge of Commitment by the participants for active partnership and involvement to various nutrition programs to improve the city’s nutrition situation.

“The fight against malnutrition remains a formidable challenge for Kidapawan City.  However, the LGU firmly committed to address and overcome these challenges”, a word from  the City Nutrition Action Officer,  Melanie Espina. (AMFlores/NNCXII)